Rebrand cricket as T20 in US: Ponting

NEW DELHI, Sep 5: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has suggested dropping the word “cricket” when promoting Twenty20 in the United States, saying the format should be marketed simply as “T20” to attract American audiences. Ponting, who has coached Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket for two seasons, believes the word cricket is too closely associated with the traditional five-day Test format. “If I were bringing it here wholly and solely to sell and promote the game, I wouldn’t call it cricket. It’d just be rebranded as T20 only,” Ponting told The Athletic. He suggested marketing T20 as a fast-paced, three-hour entertainment product and comparing it with baseball, particularly its power-hitting appeal. Ponting said the frequency of sixes could help American fans relate to the format. His comments come as cricket prepares for a major push in the US, with T20 set to feature at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. A 10,000-capacity cricket-specific stadium is also being built in Pomona, California. Ponting believes presenting T20 as an explosive, accessible sport rather than through cricket’s traditional image could help it gain a stronger foothold in the American market. (Agencies)