Ricky Ponting is
anticipating an Olympic future © Getty Images
Australia's captain Ricky Ponting believes it is only a matter of time
before Twenty20 is part of the Olympics. Just days after the
completion of the Beijing Games, Ponting said it was "inevitable" the
new form would become an Olympic event, given its popularity in the
subcontinent.
Ponting, who also called for a portion of the
international calendar to be kept free for Twenty20 tournaments, was
speaking at a dinner in Sydney to celebrate the 100th anniversary of
the birth of Don Bradman.
"I actually think it's inevitable
Twenty20 cricket will be an Olympic sport," Ponting said. "You think
about the audiences in the subcontinent, 22 or 23% of the world's
population is based in that area. The IOC could do a lot worse than
put cricket in the Olympics."
Although he wanted Twenty20 to be
part of the world's biggest sporting event, Ponting warned that the
format had to be handled carefully by international cricket bosses. He
has concerns about players chasing quick dollars rather than playing
for their country.
"The critical issue with the game of
Twenty20 cricket is how do we make it work," Ponting said. "We
definitely need a carve-out period. The reason I say that is not
because I want to go off and play, it's not about that.
"I want
to play for Australia as much as I can, I want to play as many Tests
for Australia as I can. I want the next generation of Australian
players to have that dream to put on the baggy green cap and play 100
Test matches and 300 one-day games.
"I'm worried if there's not
that period of time, be it in the IPL or the EPL, or whatever
competition it might be, that this next generation's opinions might
change. They might see the dollars and think, 'maybe it's more
appealing to me that I go and play IPL instead of playing for my
country'. That would be the saddest thing ever to happen to this great
game."
By
Arunava Das
