"It can only be a positive thing for our game": Ponting on cricket's return

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting feels that crickets return in the Los Angeles edition of the Olympics will be a big positive for the gameIt will be a part of the twoweeklong extravaganza during the 2028 Games set to be held in Los Angeles which will witness the sports return to the stage after 128 yearsThe only time cricket featured in the Olympics was in 1900 with two teams Great Britain and France with the former winning the gold medalIt can only be a positive thing for our game Ive sat on various committees over the last 15 or 20 years and its always been on the top of almost every agenda how do we get the game back into the Olympics And finally its there Ponting was quoted as saying during The ICC ReviewIts only four years away I think it also gives cricket a chance to break into the grassroots level in the US But the thing about the Olympic Games is its not the host nation Its about the audience that it opens upAlso ReadWe are very happy after winning Bronze Indian mens hockey player Amit RohidasIt was last October when the International Olympic Committee IOC officially confirmed the sports presence in the Games during the 141st IOC Session in MumbaiMeanwhile Ponting factored in that the Olympics is followed by billions worldwide and it is the best chance for the sport to draw a new audience and stamp its authority on the global stageThe Olympic Games being viewed by so many people all around the world it just opens up completely different audiences to our game thats seemingly growing on a daily basis anyway It can only be a real positive thing for the game he addedRicky Ponting feels that facilities and infrastructure would be something that would be looked after as the pitches in New York Dallas and Florida during the T20 World Cup 2024 were belowparFacilities and infrastructure and those things are going to be key and how many teams they actually decide on I think its only six or seven teams that theyre talking about he continuedSo qualification is going to be at a premium how you actually qualify to get into the Olympic Games So all those things to think about Im really excited about where the games headed and the growth of different markets that were seeing emergeRicky Ponting stepped down from the coaching role of Delhi Capitals a franchise in the Indian Premier LeagueHowever he expressed his excitement at the prospect of mentoring his national team during the LA Games four years from now although he believes there would be a long list of prospects for the sameItd be a pretty nice job I reckon to be a mentor around a cricket team in the Olympic Games to hang out speculated PontingI was lucky enough to play in the Commonwealth Games 1998 and just to be around the athletes in the villages and stuff was quite a surreal environment to be in for a cricketerSo look I wouldnt say no but I think therell be a lot of people putting their hands up to try and be a mentor or a coach for an Aussie team in the Olympic GamesItd be special to be a part of so who knows Well keep my fingers crossed and see what happens Ricky Ponting concludedWith PTI Inputs