T20 World Cup 2024: Usain Bolt says Cricket 'in my blood', reveals India-Pakistan duo as Favourite Players

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Usain Bolt, the legendary sprinter with eight Olympic gold medals, is stepping into cricket as the ambassador for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which will be held in the West Indies and USA.

The world record holder expressed his excitement about cricket and the T20 format, which he believes is the perfect blend of speed, strength, and strategy. Bolt's enthusiasm for the game was evident as he discussed his role in the diversification of the sport in USA. He also spoke about his father's influence and said cricket is 'in my blood'.

"I grew up on cricket. My dad was a massive cricket fan and still is. It is something that I have always in my blood. To actually get to be a part of cricket again as an ambassador, it is wonderful. I never got to live my dream of being a cricketer so to be ambassador of T20 World Cup is wonderful," Bolt was quoted as saying by PTI.

Bolt's affinity for speed makes T20 his favorite cricket format. He appreciates how T20 cricket requires players to be swift and strategic, combining elements of Test and one-day matches to create an exciting game. This view is shared in the Caribbean, where T20 cricket has gained popularity over Test cricket.

The modern-day gladiators of T20 cricket belong to the West Indies. The likes of Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine have amplified the love for the T20 format in the island nations, and Bolt is not an exception of that.

"T20s for sure... When they started it was a great idea and still is. It compresses the game because you have to be strong and quick but also be strategic, set a field and get things done quick. To me it combines Test match and one-day together to create the perfect game," he added.

With the USA hosting a global cricket event for the first time, Bolt sees potential for the sport's growth in the country. He believes that local engagement will increase as the American community becomes more familiar with cricket. Bolt also reminisced about cricketing legends he admired, including Wasim Akram, and mentioned his appreciation for current players like Virat Kohli.

"Over the years, one of my favourites growing up was Wasim Akram because of the in-swinging yorker that he had. Of course, Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, all these guys that I admired over the years, they were so dominant in their space. Like my father, I always support the West Indies (laughs). But yes, I have also been a Sachin Tendulkar fan. He and Brian Lara were part of my life growing up. It was a great rivalry," Bolt added.

In the current generation, Bolt picked Virat Kohli as the standout player without a shadow of hesitancy.

(with PTI inputs)