PCB plans to have Kookaburra balls locally manufactured

Board unhappy with high cost of imported balls.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is mulling over the option of having the Kookaburra balls locally manufactured in a bid to reduce costs.

The Kookaburra balls, priced at Rs12,000, were used this season in the T20 tournament and the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, proved to be too costly for the board, who have now decided to find a cheaper alternative.

According to sources, PCB officials have held meetings with local companies and asked them to manufacture balls close to the quality of genuine Kookaburras.

“We’re looking to get Kookaburra made locally as the imported balls are proving way too expensive,” a PCB official told The Express Tribune.

“There are companies who are capable of making quality Kookaburra balls if they work honestly. We are in discussions with companies such as Grays and Aceline to provide us samples of locally made Kookaburras. Once we have assessed the quality of the balls, we’ll place an order with one of them.”



However, the official also stated that the major problem in Pakistan is that they do receive quality samples but companies fail to provide balls of the same quality with consistency.

He added that the PCB would have no problem in placing orders with local companies if they can maintain the standard of their product, something that will come in handy in cost cutting for the board as well as the promotion of the local industry.

“Locally manufactured Kookaburras will cost as much as the imported ball, close to Rs4,000. That will be really economical,” said the official.

These balls were introduced on the insistence of national players Muhammad Hafeez and Misbahul Haq despite resistance shown by PCB Director General Javed Miandad. The two skippers had stressed that Pakistan players should have an idea of bowling with Kookaburra balls which are used in the international arena.

Meanwhile, another senior PCB official revealed that they were not pleased with the output of the Kookaburra in the T20 event.

Several complaints – losing shape and extensive wear and tear – came up against the white Kookaburra during the domestic T20 tournament played in Lahore.

“Obviously you don’t want to get complaints when you buy a costly product and thus we have our reservations,” said the official. “The ball lost its shape during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final as well which was really embarrassing.”.

“Even Mohammad Akram (Pakistan bowling coach) had asked the think tank to lodge a complaint to the manufacturers as dozens of balls had problems.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2013.