Cricket should be included in the 2024 Olympic Games, says former Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
The 40-year-old, the second highest Test run-scorer of all time, was speaking after a meeting of the MCC World Cricket committee at Lord’s.
“The Olympics is the pinnacle of global sport and to be able to get cricket into something like that would be an awesome spectacle,” said Ponting.
“It would be great for the growth and development of cricket.”
Ponting is one of 14 members on the MCC World Cricket committee, an independent body made up of current and former international cricketers and umpires from the men’s and women’s games.
The Australian, who made 41 Test centuries and scored 13,378 Test runs during his career, has suggested games would be played in a T20 format with sides made up of under-23 players, similar to the way football is staged at the Olympics.
“The discussions were very positive,” added Ponting. “We should look to grow the game and open it to different markets and introduce cricket to a new audience – I think that’s something the game needs.”
However, cricket’s governing body, the International Cricket Council, has not stated a desire to push cricket towards becoming an Olympic sport.
A statement from the MCC World Cricket committee added: “The committee urges the ICC board to reconsider its position and take a decision that it believes is in the best interests of the global game.
“This would need to be done in the next 12 months for cricket to have a chance of being included in the 2024 Olympics.”
