Bhubaneswar, Feb. 11: A set of 14 stamps, released by the New Zealand postal department to commemorate the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup, is now available at the post offices across the state.

The Indian postal department has procured around one lakh souvenir sheets. Of these, the Odisha postal circle has brought around 1,750.

"The World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and millions in our country follow the game religiously. So, when the stamps were released in New Zealand, we thought people here would be very happy to treasure something like this. Moreover, philatelists would also have something new to collect and cherish," said Tilak De, chief postmaster general of the state postal circle.

The souvenir sheet consists of 14 cricket ball-shaped self-adhesive stamps. Each stamp represents a competing team - India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, Australia, Scotland, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, West Indies, Ireland and the United Arab Emirates.

Each of the stamps is coloured in the respective shade of the team jersey and also bears the logo of the national flag of the country that the team is representing.

The stamp sheet had been themed "14 teams, one champion" and each stamp incorporates the official 2015 World Cup logo in the centre.

The New Zealand postal department has customised the sheets sent to India. On it, there is the World Cup trophy inscribed at the centre and below it mentions the years, 1983 and 2011, when India became champion.

The sheets are prices at Rs 400 each and available at the two philatelic bureaus in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and the 33 post offices across the state. "The initiative will help the postal department of the state garner money, which could be utilised in upgrading the facilities provided by us," said De.

The department also plans to send a few sheets to the various sports and philatelists' associations of the state for sale.