Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting opened up on cricket's inclusion in the Olympics, he said that this is a major positive for cricket, as it will gain exposure to a global audience during the two-week sporting extravaganza. The only previous appearance of cricket at the Olympics was in 1900, with Great Britain defeating France to win the gold medal.
Ponting is arguably one of the best captains Australia ever got because under his leadership the team won two World Cups which is most by any captain. Ponting believes the Olympics' massive global viewership offers cricket an unparalleled platform to reach new fans and elevate its status as a truly international sport.
“It can only be a positive thing for our game. I've sat on various committees over the last 15 or 20 years, and it's always been on the top of almost every agenda –- how do we get the game back into the Olympics? And finally, it's there," Ponting was quoted as saying during The ICC Review.
“It's only four years away. I think it also gives cricket a chance to break into the grassroots level in the US. But the thing about the Olympic Games, it's not the host nation. It's about the audience that it opens up" added Ponting.
He also said that the facilities and infrastructure will play a key role citing the example of the recently concluded T20 World Cup where teams were seen struggling because of poor management by USA Cricket.
“Facilities and infrastructure and those things are going to be key and how many teams they actually decide on. I think it's only six or seven teams that they're talking about. "So, qualification is going to be at a premium -- how you actually qualify to get into the Olympic Games.
“So all those things to think about, I'm really excited about where the game's headed and the growth of different markets that we're seeing emerge."
With PTI inputs
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