Ricky Ponting points out why Olympics 2028 is crucial for cricket

Legendary Australian captain Ricky Ponting is excited for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics due to the return of cricket in the Olympics. 

Cricket was introduced at the Summer Olympics in 1900, and it was the only time till 2024 that cricket was a part of the Olympics. During the 1900 Summer Olympics, the game was initially scheduled with four teams: Great Britain, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. It was originally scheduled with two semi-finals, followed by one final match.  

However, Belgium and the Netherlands cricket teams were ultimately absent from the Summer Olympics, as the event was organised with only one game between Great Britain and France. Although the teams are now officially known as Great Britain and France, none of the teams were selected nationally. The Devon and Somerset Wanderers club represented Great Britain, and the French Athletic Club Union represented the hosts France. 

Great Britain won that two-day match to secure the gold medal at the 1900 Summer Olympics. Meanwhile, France secured the bronze medal. 

It can only be a positive thing for our game: Ricky Ponting

Cricket is set to be reintroduced at the Summer Olympics in the next edition, Los Angeles 2028. Ponting feels that it is a positive thing for cricket to become a part of the Summer Olympics.

Ponting said in the ICC review, "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… It's only four years away. I think it also gives cricket a chance to break into the grassroots level in the US."

Talking about why cricket will become more special after its return to the Olympics, Ponting added that many nations experience the Olympic games, so the game can attract many different levels of audience during the Summer Olympics. 

The two-time ODI World Cup-winning captain added, "The thing about the Olympic Games, it's not [about] the host nation. It's about the audience that it opens up. The Olympic Games being viewed by so many people all around the world, it just opens up completely different audiences to our game that's seemingly growing on a daily basis anyway. It can only be a real positive thing for the game."

Facilities and infrastructure are going to be key: Ricky Ponting 

The USA recently hosted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, along with the West Indies. However, the USA leg has been heavily criticised for delivering substandard pitches for the tournament. 

Ponting also pointed out the importance of the facilities and infrastructure of the game during the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. 

Ponting claimed, “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. ”

At the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, both men’s and women’s cricket tournaments are likely to be in the T20 format.