Picture by G Vijayalakshmi and text by our correspondent

Hyderabad will not host a single World Cup match but the city’s stamp will travel with Stumpy, the event’s elephant mascot.

For the tournament beginning on February 19, a private company in the Andhra Pradesh capital has made inflatable Stumpys (picture above).

The blue-grey elephant was selected by the ICC as the official mascot for the event to be hosted jointly by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Along with Stumpy, Ms Inflatable Ideas is also making a World Cup inflatable trophy. That too will be sent to the match venues.

Inflatable Ideas is the sole supplier of the mascot, chosen by the International Cricket Council, and the Cup inflatables.

“The Stumpy and the trophy models will be placed in stadiums in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh,” said Bhanu, a spokesperson of the Inflatable Ideas.

The company had prepared three types of models for the trophy and two for Stumpy.

Made from foam, the larger mascot is six and a half feet in height. It is priced at Rs 22,000. The smaller size is two feet tall and is priced at Rs 11,000.

The trophy model is the one which will attract everyone. It is made of nylon and PVC which can be placed on the ground and cost Rs 55,000, said Bhanu.