BatFast has appointed Nick Hockley as Global Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, as the sports simulation technology company advances its international growth strategy.
The move brings one of global sport’s most experienced executives into a leadership role at a business operating at the intersection of training, entertainment and fan engagement. For operators and designers of visitor attractions, the appointment signals BatFast’s intent to scale its technology platform across new territories and sporting codes.
Leadership Experience Across Global Sport
Hockley joins BatFast following a five-year tenure as CEO of Cricket Australia from 2020 to 2025. During that period, he steered the organisation through the pandemic and oversaw a sustained period of sporting and commercial performance, including multiple ICC tournament victories and major broadcast agreements. He also delivered a new five-year strategy and repositioned the Big Bash League for longer-term growth.
Earlier in his career, Hockley held senior commercial and executive roles connected to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, ICC global tournaments and the ICC T20 World Cup in 2020.
His relationship with BatFast predates this appointment. As CEO of Cricket Australia, he worked with the company on fan engagement initiatives. Since October 2025, he has also served as Chair of HiTZ Australia, the cricket training platform majority owned by BatFast and powered by its SmartPlay technology. HiTZ recently opened in Melbourne, marking the first international rollout of BatFast’s AI-enabled cricket training model.
Scaling An AI-Powered Sports Simulation Platform
BatFast’s platform combines robotics, computer vision ball tracking, machine learning analytics and immersive gamification to deliver high-performance training and participatory sports experiences. The system captures performance data in real time, providing personalised feedback for users while maintaining an entertainment-led format suited to public venues.
For experience operators, this hybrid approach offers a versatile product. The technology can be deployed within dedicated training facilities, integrated into family entertainment centres or installed as an anchor attraction at major sporting events. Its data-driven model also supports repeat visitation through measurable progress and competitive play.
Under Hockley’s leadership, BatFast is targeting expansion across Australia, India, North America and the Middle East. The founders, Runish Gudhka and Jignesh Patel, will continue in strategic and technical leadership roles, focusing on product development and long-term direction.
Infrastructure For The Future Of Participatory Sport
BatFast currently works with organisations including Cricket Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board, the International Cricket Council, Tennis Australia and Major League Baseball. Its ambition is to establish its platform as core infrastructure within cricket and, over time, across multiple sports.
For B2B stakeholders, the significance lies in the convergence of sport, data and immersive technology. Elite-level training tools are moving into accessible, revenue-generating public environments. This creates opportunities for venues to combine performance development with entertainment, broadening audience reach while maintaining sporting credibility.
Hockley’s experience in governing bodies, global tournaments and commercial rights negotiations provides BatFast with leadership familiar with elite sport and large-scale event delivery. As the company pursues international growth, his appointment positions it to deepen partnerships with rights holders, venue operators and event organisers seeking technology-led participatory formats.
For the wider visitor experience sector, BatFast’s expansion reflects growing demand for attractions that merge competition, data insight and live engagement. As sport continues to intersect with immersive technology, platforms capable of serving high-performance and public markets are likely to play an increasingly central role in venue programming worldwide.
