Srinagar, Oct 4: Bats made from Kashmiri willow are being used by international female players in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Several players, including West Indies cricketers like Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, and Aaliyah Alleyne, played with Kashmir willow bats. These bats and other gear were manufactured by GR8 Sports and used in the T20 World Cup match against South Africa at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Previously, male cricketers from nations like the West Indies, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman, and the UAE also used Kashmir willow bats.
Mohammad Sharif, who works in one of the bat companies, explained that willow trees, from which the bats are made, take around 15 years to mature. “After reaching maturity, the trees are cut down, and the wood is taken to bat factories, where it is processed into logs and then shaped into bat clefts. Craftsmen then carve these into bats,” he said.
Abdul Hamid, a Kashmiri botanist said that both English and Kashmiri willows come from the same tree, Salix alba. “The ideal places for growing this tree are England and Kashmir due to weather conditions like rainfall, soil nutrients, moisture, and climate. These willows are solid and durable, with high rebound quality and low moisture content. The raw material is the same, but the main difference is color. English willow bats shine brighter than their Kashmiri counterparts because English willow is lighter,” he explained.
