New Zealand Cricket Secures BatFast Partnership to Elevate Commercial Fan Engagement for India Tour

New Zealand Cricket has announced a partnership with global sports technology provider BatFast and major commercial sponsor ANZ to introduce an interactive augmented-reality cricket activation across upcoming international fixtures.

Scheduled to run during the Hero Vida India tour of New Zealand, Powered by Ai+ Nova Smartphone, the newly minted ANZ BatZone will provide spectators with an immersive simulation experience designed to deepen grassroots connection and commercial engagement throughout the domestic summer.

With tickets already available through digital channels, the commercial initiative aims to set a new benchmark for matchday sponsorship integration.

From a commercial perspective, the collaboration represents a strategic effort by sports administrators to leverage high-profile international tours to drive active participation rather than passive viewing.

New Zealand Cricket chief commercial and marketing officer, Glenn Critchley, highlighted the commercial and experiential value of the venture, noting that digital technology is reshaping how sports organisations interact with supporters.

“New Zealand Cricket is delighted to be teaming up with BatFast and ANZ to bring the experience to our country for the first time this summer.”

“We’re always looking for ways to connect Kiwis with the game, build on our match day experience, and our engagement with the community, and we can think of no one better than BatFast to bring a genuinely world-class experience to cricket fans across Aotearoa,” Critchley said

Emphasising the broader philosophy underpinning the partnership, senior commercial manager at BatFast, Jack Roddick, added: “Sport is at its most powerful when people have the opportunity to participate, not simply watch.”

“This partnership with New Zealand Cricket gives us an incredible platform to turn the excitement around one of the biggest series of the summer into active participation.

“We’re particularly excited to be taking interactive cricket experiences across New Zealand and giving fans the chance to get involved throughout the series,” Roddick stated.

The free-to-play augmented-reality simulator will officially launch at a community event in Christchurch on October 21 before rolling out across match venues in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga from October 22 through to December 1.

The activation enables participants to face a realistic delivery stream using a genuine bat and ball, with every stroke digitally tracked on an interactive wagon wheel. Integrated digital registration systems and real-time on-site and online leaderboards have been engineered to streamline fan throughput while driving digital engagement metrics for participating commercial partners.

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