Ricky Ponting is thrilled that cricket will be a part of the 2028 LA Olympics

Ricky Ponting, a legendary cricket player from Australia, is thrilled that cricket will be featured in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Remarkably, the last time cricket was played at the Olympics was in 1900, when Great Britain won the gold medal by defeating France by 158 runs. With Los Angeles serving as the host city in 2028, the sport is poised to return after an incredible 128 years.

Cricket’s inclusion was formally approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the 141st IOC Session, which took place in Mumbai in October 2023. Prior to the event, Ponting declared that it would be advantageous for the sport and that bringing the Olympics back to the Games has long been a goal shared by everybody.

Cricket in Olympics will Boost the Game

It can only benefit our game in some way. Over the past fifteen or twenty years, I have been on a number of committees, and getting the game back into the Olympics has always been the top priority on practically every agenda. And at last, it is present,” Ponting stated on ICC Review.

Speaking ahead, the renowned Australian skipper expressed his optimism that Major League Cricket (MLC) will help the game gain popularity in the US within four years.

It’ll only be here in four years. Again, by then, ideally, in the US with Major League Cricket (MLC), and perhaps expanding four more years later. Who knows, by then there could even be a larger MLC roster. It, in my opinion, also offers cricket in the US an opportunity to gain traction at the local level. However, the host country isn’t the only element that makes the Olympic Games special. It’s about the audience it makes available,” he continued.

Ponting added that it will benefit cricket to have its games played in the Olympics as it will introduce the game to a wider audience.

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“With so many people watching the Olympics from all around the world, it just introduces our game which seems to be becoming bigger every day to whole new audiences. He went on, “It can only be really beneficial for the game.

Notably, during the T20 World Cup, cricket was played in the USA to positive reception from the audience, who also witnessed an exciting match between India and Pakistan. Therefore, the sport, which will be played in the T20 style in Los Angeles during the Olympics, has a big potential to reach a broader audience.