Former Australian cricket star Adam Gilchrist says his plan for cricket to become an Olympic sport is serious, saying cricket can help the Games reach a new audience on the subcontinent.
Talking to 2GB radio today, Gilchrist said Olympics would benefit from introducing Twenty20 cricket to its list of events by the 2020 Games.
He said cricket would also benefit, reaching a wider international audience and providing more exposure to the women’s game.
“I think it’s a bit of a two-way street, in the benefits the Olympic movement can provide cricket, in regards to the growth and development in new markets for the game,” Gilchrist said.
“There’s obviously only a limited number of international teams, and fewer competitive international teams at the moment. That’s one element of what my suggestion is.
“The women’s game in particular could really develop. It would take huge strides forward. We’ve seen it in hockey, we’ve seen it in a variety of sport across the Olympic movement, where the female version of the game has really benefited.
“And on the flipside, probably a point that a lot of people don’t sit back and realise is that cricket could help the Olympic spirit, the Olympic message and the hole Olympic body gain a greater presence in the subcontinent – in the India, Pakistan, Bangladesh region – where we’ve got 22 per cent of the world’s population in that area.
“Out of those 1.5 billion people, in (the Athens Games in) 2004 there was one silver medal. A female weightlifter I think it was.
“That’s extraordinary.
“So I think the Olympics could benefit from having cricket on board.”
