by Shreyas Bhide
Former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist on Monday called for the Twenty20 format to be included in the Olympics. Even as the countdown for Beijing Olympics begins, Gilchrist has called for cricket to be re-introduced as an Olympic sport (Cricket was a part of 1900 Olympics, where England had beaten France to win a Gold).
“With T20 cricket here to stay, now is the time for the 10 full member nations to plan for the development and popularity of the sport over the next 100 years”, Gilchrist was quoted as saying in The Morning Herald. 100 years is a long way to think of, but in context of Cricket making it to the Olympics, the ICC and other member bodied should start working towards Gilchrist’s proposal. The Olympic association has recognized cricket as an official Olympic sport for about 2 years now. Cricket deserved to enter Olympics long back, but it’s not too late. These are exciting times for cricket, what with the Domestic T20 championships in England, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand making a splash. Further, the enormous success of IPL has opened up the possibility of truly globalizing this sport.
The Olympics would serve as the perfect platform to showcase the game to a larger audience and drawing many newer fans and helping drive cricket development in emerging, associated and affiliated cricketing nations. 2020 may seem a long time away but the process needs to be started now. The ICC, the national boards, the players (current and former), the coaches, support staff and the cricket fraternity as a whole have a responsibility to grow the game in new territories and also amongst the women in the world. Cricket is considered to be a gentleman’s game traditionally, but it has occasionally thrown up some super-talented women cricketers across the globe. Moreover the number of female fans is on the rise and the advent of cheerleaders in modern day cricket, it becomes a desperate necessity that cricket holds high popularity and craze amongst its women audience too, the same way as soccer does.
The format may have a few critics, but their fears are misplaced to say the least. While the ICC and its member nations have to balance their priorities between Tests, ODI’s and domestic competitions, they also need to embrace the newest format whole heartedly for the simple reason that ‘this ‘ is the format of the game that will help cricket get worldwide recognition and popularity. T20 appeals to wider audiences that have hitherto been non-interested about Tests and ODI’s. Of course the loyal audience who follow Tests and ODI’s, are sure to follow T20, thus making a bigger spectator interest section.
For the players too, playing at the highest level would be a cherished moment. A sport that has been loved and followed as a religion by a population of billions in Asia truly deserves to be a part of the Olympics. It would be great for the Asian population and players, if their favorite sport gets Olympic recognition. The ICC and its members have a relatively short period to build a case for cricket’s inclusion, and hence they need a program status by 2013, as stated by ICC authorities. Competition in 2016 Olympics is tough with the likes of karate, baseball, softball and rugby also vying for the all important slots; but the ICC should push the envelope anyways. Only ICC setting the ball rolling wouldn’t do; all the stake holders have to turn this pipedream into reality.
Image courtesy:
