DUBAI // Visitors to the ICC Academy in Sports City will be knocked for six at the sight of a giant cricket bat lining the length of the building.
The bat, which measures 32 metres and weighs 920 kilograms, is thought to be the world’s largest.
But officials from broadcaster OSN, which unveiled the big willow on Monday to promote next month’s cricket World Cup, were stumped when asked if it set a Guinness World Record, as they had yet to submit it for consideration.
It would appear to be a formality, however, because it would be the first big bat to enter the record books.
The World Cup begins on February 14 and is being jointly held by Australia and New Zealand.
“It’s the first year the UAE national team are travelling to the World Cup and we wanted to help raise awareness of this as it’s our second year sponsoring the team,” said Hamad Malik, OSN’s chief marketing officer.
Will Kitchen, general manager of the ICC Academy, said it took several teams two weeks to make the bat.
The bat will remain at the academy for the duration of the tournament.
mswan@thenational.ae
