Batting legend Virender Sehwag has batted for a spread of cricket in more countries if the game has to make its way into the Olympics.
The idea of promoting cricket to the planet’s biggest sporting extravaganza has been a much-debated topic in the world of cricket. The game has not been played at the Olympics since the games in Paris in 1900 when it made its maiden appearance, but there have been talks of the game returning after the meteoric rise of T20 cricket.
Early this year, David Richardson, the chief executive of the International Cricket Council, had hinted the International Cricket Council (ICC) was mulling on making a bid for the inclusion of cricket in the 2024 Olympics.
However, Sehwag feels the governing body of the game needs more member bodies to make it to the Olympics. At the moment, the ICC comprises 105 members, but only 12 are full members.
“I think it is ICC’s call. They need more nations to play cricket; then it can be part of Olympics. Twelve teams (full members) are not enough,” said Sehwag on the launch of St. Moritz Ice Cricket on Wednesday (November 22).
And with the ICC looking to spread the game in different corners of the world, St. Moritz Ice Cricket can be one way of promoting the game. Former International stars like Sehwag, Mahela Jayawardene, Shoaib Akhtar, Daniel Vettori, Mohammad Kaif and Graeme Smith will be playing in Switzerland, a country where cricket is yet to get is foothold.
“It will be great if we can inspire somebody (to take up the game in Switzerland,” said Sehwag.
Meanwhile, early this year, Richardson had said the ICC believed the time is right for the game to press its claim in Olympics.
“I think a majority of the (ICC) members and certainly myself think the time is right,” Richardson had said at the SportsPro Live conference in London in March. “I think we have come to the conclusion the overall benefit to globalise it (cricket) and grow the game will outweigh any negatives. We need to make a decision by July this year so we can make an application in time for September, when, as I understand it, the IOC will consider new sports for 2024.”
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