Tendulkar, Warne bat for T20’s inclusion in Olympics
Cricket greats Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne have batted for Twenty20 becoming an Olympic sport ahead of the scheduled meeting between International Cricket Council (ICC) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) next month to discuss the possibility. Cricket has not been part of the Games since 1900.
“I’d love to see it as an Olympic sport and, who knows, down the track it might be,” Australian Warne told BBC. Record-breaking batsman Tendulkar said, “I think it's a great idea and I reckon T20 is the best format for it.”
Tendulkar and Warne are playing their part in promoting the game globally by leading rival teams in an All Star Twenty20 in the United States next month.
The ICC has been apprehensive of an Olympic bid fearing that it might dilute the World Cup and World Twenty20. However, following its board meeting in October, the ICC announced that its chief executive David Richardson and director Giles Clarke would hold talks with the IOC in November.
“It’s the most acceptable format for people who don't have any knowledge about cricket or the ones who need an introduction to cricket," Tendulkar said, backing T20 as the ideal format for Olympics. “The game is over in three hours and it's like any sport- you go to a stadium and after three hours you get back to your work.”
Leg-spinner Warne said indoor cricket is also an option. “If it advertises the game of cricket and the skill and athleticism that are involved in a game of cricket, then great,” the Australian said. “I haven't seen a game of indoor cricket for a long time so I don't know how good indoor cricket is at the moment. But the last time I saw it, it was fantastic- so hopefully they have grown a different skill for it.
“Ideally, I'd stick to Twenty20 because it's over in three hours, it's easy to organise and you play two or three games a day. I'd include the associate nations because it’s helping spread the word of cricket.”
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