Former Aussie batsman Adam Gilchrist has called for Twenty20 cricket to be included as an Olympic event in 2020.

Gilchrist, who used to be a nightmare for new ball bowlers till a few days back, wrote in one of his columns for an Indian national daily that "in securing the game's global future it is very important for cricket to feature on a global platform and Olympics is the best place for it".

With the start of the Beijing event less than a week away, Gilchrist said that since IPL and T20 cricket are such runaway success, cricket's "pipedream" of becoming an Olympic event is now a "potential reality".

"It doesn't matter where the 2020 Olympic Games are held, but many of us who've experienced international Twenty20 cricket and the IPL are convinced that cricket should bid to become an Olympic sport in time for the Games," Gilchrist wrote.

"We have a responsibility to grow our game in new territories and amongst the women of the world, I believe the Olympic Games is the vehicle the sport should use to aggressively sell the message of our sport to all 202 competing Olympic nations, so our sport is strong and robust in countries where it is currently played, and exciting and ground-breaking in countries who haven't yet caught the 'cricket-bug'," the southpaw wrote.

Gilchrist believes it is time to start serious lobbying.

"Between 2009 and 2013 cricket would promote itself to the IOC as a prospective sport and, if we get it right, cricket will be invited to the Olympic party in 2020," he said.

Gilchrist had experienced the surge of interest in Twenty20 during his time with the Deccan Chargers earlier this year and is thoroughly convinced the IPL revolution has "changed cricket dynamics forever". Now he has pleaded the BCCI officials to work with the ICC to help take it to the Olympics.

"They would be investing in the future of the sport because by having a men's and women's competition at the Olympic Games many more countries would be drawn to cricket," he said.

"It wouldn't surprise me if countries like the USA, China, Italy, France and Japan become competitive very quickly in Twenty20, especially in women's Twenty20. I believe that in time the success of cricket at the Olympic Games will lead to more Test-playing nations, something that the sport will need in the coming century. I look forward to the day when Australia takes on Italy in a Test match in Rome," he further added.

The three time World Cup winner explained that competing in the Olympics will also add a sense of greater pride to cricket.

"Take it from someone who has won almost everything cricket has to offer - the Olympics is the absolute pinnacle in sport, cricketers won't care about the money. The chance to stand on top of the Olympic podium, to wear an Olympic gold medal and the pride of belting out your national anthem would be a life-changing money-can't-buy experience," he said.

To receive "programme status" at the 2020 Olympics, cricket would need to be approved by the IOC at a meeting seven years before the event. Twenty-six sports are part of the Beijing schedule and there are currently two vacancies for future Games. Golf, karate, baseball, softball, rugby sevens and roller sports are among the disciplines currently competing for the right to be involved in 2016.