The Mongoose bat may have yielded limited returns for Mathew Hayden in the Indian Premier League, but it is certainly gaining popularity among the cricketers in the UAE.
Cricket lovers are flocking the shops here and in Sharjah inquiring about the availability of the bat.
“Our showroom has already started selling Mongoose bat. A few bats have also been sold in our showroom’s outlet in Wimbledon, England,” Ali Anwar Jafri of the Sharjah Cricket Council and owner of AJ Sports said.
“I had flown in 20 Mongoose bats nearly six months ago but they had remained unsold. But now the demand is really high,” Mr. Jafri told Gulf News.
“The power of every cricket bat has increased with manufactures making sure that the sweet spot is made thicker. Bats are now very light and not pressed and such bats are good for professionals but not for club level cricketers,” said Mr. Jafri.
“Hard hitters want a lot of meat in the middle and I recently happened to see Yusuf Pathan’s bat. It was unbelievably thick in the middle,” he added.
Though such bats may not last long, professional cricketers do not mind using it because most of the bats are given to them by sponsors and they do not have to pay from their pocket.
“These bats may have lots of power but less longevity. The Mongoose bat is being sold for 300 dirhams (Rs 3,684) and UAE’s hardest hitters are likely to use it in the coming tournaments,” Mr. Jafri said.
