T10 right format to take cricket to Olympics, says Sehwag
Former Test batsman Virender Sehwag on Thursday backed the inclusion of cricket in the Olympic Games and felt the T10 format will be ideal to be drafted into the quadrennial sports extravaganza.
"I think (if) we are talking about (the fact) that cricket should be a part of the Olympics, I think T10 is the right format. Because it gets over in 90 minutes and it's like a football match and a result will come. So, I think, this is the right format, if ICC is thinking about talking to the (International) Olympic Association (Committee) that cricket should be part of that (the Olympics)," the former swashbuckling India opener said at an event here. Sehwag will be captaining 'Maratha Arabians' team, which will feature in the T10 Cricket League to be played from December 1417 in the United Arab Emirates. He leads a squad which features former Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara and Pakistan players Mohammed Amir and Kamran Akmal. The team's jersey was launched at the event this afternoon.
He said he backed the T10 format as he felt more nations would be able to produce one or two matchwinning players and compete well. "(I back it) because more nations can play T10 and one batsman or one bowler can win you the game.
So every country can produce one or two players who can win the T10 matches. "Now the ICC (International Cricket Council) has to think if they want to take this to (International) Olympic Association (Committee) or not. All the nations, who are smaller nations, who are playing four-day (games), Test matches, One-Day (matches) or T20, they can play T10 and cricket can be part of Olympic as well," added Sehwag. However, the cricketer-turned-commentator refused to answer a question about demand for fee hike for the Indian players.