A bat factory in Halmullah, near Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-administered Kashmir, India. Cricket bat manufacturers in Kashmir are experiencing a boom in sales ahead of the Cricket World Cup, which starts on 14 February. Kashmir willow, while less valuable than English willow, is widely used in cricket bats and Kashmir is a leading exporter after the UK. Ten percent of its products are exported, mainly to the cricketing heartlands of the UK, Australia and neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh.