"I don’t know whether cricket will ever be part of the Olympic Games. But I know that every cricket fan, follower and player wants to be involved and competing in the Olympics. But for now I am praying for Sania’s success and hope she wins a gold medal," Malik said.

Malik along with other Pakistani cricketers, meanwhile, pitched for the inclusion of T20 cricket in the Olympics.

"I don’t understand why we can’t have T20 cricket in the Olympics. I would love to play in the Olympics and be part of it," said wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal.

Pakistan’s flamboyant all-rounder, Shahid Afridi said that it had always been a dream for him to represent his country in the Olympics and win a medal.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq hoped that since the ICC was now officially recognised as a federation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), cricket could make a return to the Olympic Games by 2020.

Cricket made a sole appearance in the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, with a two-day match played between Great Britain and France that the former won. But after that cricket has never been part of the Olympics.