Cricket and Olympics are like that trip to the dentist that we know is good for health but keep postponing citing reasons that really aren’t insurmountable.
After yet another round of discussions by the International Cricket Council, we have basically reached nowhere with the ICC announcing “there will be further discussions on cricket’s potential participation in the Olympic Games following further meetings with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later in the year.”
At a time when cricket’s participation at the Games should be one of the main targets for the sport, there is still uncertainty over how forcefully the issue should be pursued. This discussion cannot go on forever.
The IOC has apparently informed the ICC that it will not keep waiting, with the possibility of a direct entry into the Games ‘closing soon’. While a direct entry ensures substantial funding for the ICC ($15-20 million according to ESPNcricinfo) and also inclusion in two subsequent Olympics, individual applications by the host country wouldn’t lead to such support.
If the administrators needed any wake-up call, they received it from the IOC who have made it known that if the ICC continues to avoid taking a decision over the matter, cricket would be at the mercy of host countries in the future; as of now the Italian Cricket Federation (yes they have one) has assured cricket will be included in the 2024 Olympics if Rome wins the bid.
It has also emerged that there was some scepticism over the scheduling as it could mean having the Olympics and a World T20 in the same calendar year. But the broadcasters have told the ICC that any Olympic T20 tournament is unlikely to have an impact on the World T20 since they will be two distinct products with different teams.
That’s because even if we have cricket at the Olympics, it is unlikely that all current Test playing nations will be able to take part in it, mainly the Indian team since the BCCI is said to be unwilling to work with the country’s Olympic association.
Whatever the situation is with the Indian cricket board, the ICC must recognise that having cricket on the Olympic roster is the best way to promote the game to all parts of the globe. Even if the Olympics see 12-16 teams participating, it will be a start. It doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect from the beginning.
As long as cricket makes an appearance on a truly global stage, it will all be worth it. And if it happens through a direct entry through the IOC, even better since cricket would be featured in subsequent Games too.
#BREAKING Cricket will be part of the 2024 Olympics if Rome wins the bid to host the event, says Italian cricket board chief Simone Gambino
— TOI Sports News (@TOISportsNews) July 1, 2016
There is no doubt any major cricket tournament needs India to make it a commercial success. But the Olympics are not about monetary gains. They provide something no World Cup ever can, and that is genuine access to non-traditional markets.
If the ICC makes up its mind and targets the 2024 Olympics, with or without India, having T20 at the Games is an achievable target. The impediments, in my opinion, are not serious.
So while it is commendable that the ICC ‘has decided to submit an application for a women’s cricket event to be included in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban’, there is so much more it can and should do.
India’s new coach Anil Kumble has some different ideas when it comes to preparing the team. One of the first ideas he implemented during the team’s training camp was the ‘buddy system’, something which was first employed by former coach John Wright.
It entails pairing a bowler with a batsman so that they get to learn from each other’s game and also provide inputs, wherever possible.
Anil Kumble to meet Dravid and Dhoni to discuss about future roadmap for Indian Cricket...
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) July 2, 2016
Happy that Indian Cricket is in better hands! ☺
The second idea was a bit more unconventional, with the team taking part in a bonding session that involved players gathering in a circle and playing drums together.
While such attempts can look fun, I have my doubts as to how much good they do. Not all 11 players in a team are supposed to bond with every other member, just look at the great West Indies side of the 1980s or the Aussies of the 2000s.
Also, some ‘unique’ bonding exercises can do more harm than good, like it did for Aussie spinner Stuart MacGill who permanently damaged his knee while taking part in a boot camp planned by the then coach John Buchanan.
Keeping it simple is a tried and tested formula. But if Kumble believes such exercises can bring some new cohesion in the team, then good luck to him.
