Ponting expects Twenty20 to be Olympic
Australian captain Ricky Ponting said Wednesday it is only a matter
of time before Twenty20 cricket is part of the Olympic Games.
Just days after the completion of the Beijing Games, Ponting said it
was “inevitable” the game’s newest form would become an Olympic event
given its popularity in the sub-continent.
Ponting, who also called for a portion of the international cricket
calendar to be kept free for Twenty20 tournaments, was speaking here
Wednesday night at a dinner to celebrate 100 years since the birth of
Donald Bradman.
“I actually think it’s inevitable Twenty20 cricket will be an Olympic
sport,” Ponting said. “You think about the audiences in the
sub-continent, 22 or 23 per cent of the world’s population is based in
that area.
“The IOC could do a lot worse than put cricket into the Olympics.”
But although he called for Twenty20 cricket to be part of the world’s
biggest sporting event, he also warned that it had to be handled
carefully by international cricket bosses.
Ponting said he had mounting concerns about players chasing quick
dollars in the game rather than playing for their country.
He suggested the need for a window in the international calendar each
year for Twenty20 tournaments such as the Indian Premier League.
“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.”
SYDNEY, Thursday, AFP |
