Legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting is thrilled that cricket will return to the Olympic stage at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The sport last appeared in the Olympics in 1900, when Great Britain defeated France by 158 runs to claim the gold medal. After a 128-year absence, cricket is poised to make a triumphant comeback at the next Summer Olympics, which will be hosted by Los Angeles.
At the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai in October 2023, the International Olympic Committee officially approved cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics. Ponting welcomed the move, stating that it would be a positive development for the sport and that bringing cricket back to the Olympic Games had long been a goal for many years.
“After serving on various sports committees for the past 15-20 years, I can say with confidence that getting our sport back into the Olympic Games has been a top priority. Finally, that goal has been achieved, which can only be a positive development for our sport and its future,” remarked Ponting on ICC Review.
Speaking ahead, the former batter expressed his optimism that Major League Cricket (MLC) will help the game gain popularity in the US within four years.
“Over the next four years, Major League Cricket (MLC) is poised to experience significant growth in the United States. Hopefully, by then, there will be even more MLC teams. This could help cricket break into the grassroots level in the US. While the Olympics may not primarily benefit the host nation, the global audience it attracts is invaluable,” he added.
“With so many people watching the Olympics from across the world, it just introduces our sport which seems to be becoming bigger every day to whole new audiences. This can only benefit the sport tremendously,” he stated.
The recent T20 World Cup matches held in the USA generated considerable excitement, with the crowd enthusiastically embracing the high-stakes India vs Pakistan clash. This positive reception suggests cricket has significant potential to attract wider audiences, particularly during the Olympics where it will be featured in the T20 format in Los Angeles.