Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes it is only a matter of time before cricket is included as an Olympic sport.
Calls for the sport to be included at the Games have gained momentum in the recent past following the rising popularity of Twenty20 cricket, especially on the sub-continent.
Last month former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist threw his weight behind the idea, with the 2020 Games touted as the earliest possible introduction.
At a dinner marking the centenary of the birth of Sir Donald Bradman Ponting said: ‘I think it's inevitable Twenty20 will be an Olympic sport.
‘The International Olympic Committee could do a lot worse than put cricket into the Olympics. Just think about the audiences in the subcontinent.
‘You think about the audiences in the subcontinent, 22 or 23% of the world's population is based in that area.’
Despite backing Twenty20 cricket as the vehicle to incorporate cricket back into the Olympics - it was last played at the Paris Games in 1900 - Ponting also warned the shortened format must be better regulated.
Ponting called for a Twenty20 ‘carve-out’ period during each year so that it does not conflict with international commitments during the year.
Already problems have arisen with Sri Lanka's tour of England next year clashing with the Indian Premier League.
Sri Lanka Cricket have indicated their players with IPL contracts will be allowed to attend the IPL, but Ponting believes that situation must be avoided to prevent Test cricket being overshadowed by Twenty20.
Ponting said: ‘The critical issue with the game of Twenty20 is how do we make it work?
‘We definitely need a carve-out period. I'm worried if there's not that period of time, be it in the IPL or the EPL or whatever competition it might be, this next generation's opinions might change.
‘They might see the dollars and think 'maybe it's more appealing to me that I go and play IPL instead of playing for my country'.
‘That would be the saddest thing ever to happen to this great game.
‘I want the next generation of Australian players to have that dream to put on the baggy green cap and play 100 Test matches and 300 one-day games.’
