The English season is set to start on April 3, but officials report that stock levels of Dukes balls, used in home Tests and the County Championship involving all 18 first-class counties, are already reduced to about half the usual supply. With limited balls available, teams may need to ration their allocations at the beginning of the season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Dilip Jajodia, owner of British Cricket Balls Ltd, the manufacturer of Dukes balls, highlighted the impact of the Gulf conflict on freight and logistics. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a major crisis right now with this bloody Gulf War nonsense. We\u2019ve got to ration clubs by giving them 50 per cent of their balls at the start of the season, and then manage the problem. We\u2019ve got plenty of stuff in the factories in the subcontinent ready to go, but the airlines are not taking the freight, because there\u2019s a logjam,\u201d he told Daily Mail.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jajodia further explained that the conflict has caused a sharp increase in transportation costs, as safety concerns and disrupted flight routes through the Middle East have driven up freight charges. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe rates have gone up, too. A box of 120 cricket balls would be charged normally by airlines at about $5 a kilo. The last quote I got was $15 a kilo. Most of the stuff goes through the Middle East, but if you\u2019ve suddenly got rockets flying around, you\u2019ve got a major problem,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite the serious nature of the situation, Jajodia struck a humorous note, saying, \u201cIf only I had known this was going to happen, I\u2019d have had a word with Donald Trump. Please don\u2019t attack anybody before the cricket season starts!\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
An official from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) acknowledged that the supply disruption served as a wake-up call for the domestic industry.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite the serious nature of the situation, Jajodia struck a humorous note, saying, \u201cIf only I had known this was going to happen, I\u2019d have had a word with Donald Trump. Please don\u2019t attack anybody before the cricket season starts!\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With the first round of matches just weeks away, English cricket authorities will have to navigate these supply constraints carefully to ensure the season proceeds smoothly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n