Italy reveals squad for maiden T20 World Cup appearance, former South Africa international included
Italy has announced its squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, in which it will participate in the global tournament for the first time. The selection was notable for the inclusion of a former South African international, adding experience and firepower to the historic Italian squad.
Italy has announced its 15-man squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which starts on February 7. Azzuris will begin their inaugural campaign with a match against Bangladesh on February 9 at the famous Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Following a dispute with former Australian cricketer Joe Burns, Italy appointed Wayne Madsen as captain to lead the team in this prestigious tournament. Particularly the selection of JJ Smuts, who will play in international cricket for South Africa until 2021, has sparked interest.
Smuts brings a wealth of international experience to the Azzurri set-up, having previously played in 13 T20Is and six ODIs for South Africa. His involvement adds both depth and experience to the team as it prepares for its debut on the global stage.
Journey to T20 World Cup 2026
Italy secured qualification with their remarkable performance in the T20 World Cup European Qualifiers 2025. Italy, which finished the tournament in second place, clinched its place by gaining important victories against Scotland and Guernsey. This success saw them qualify alongside the Netherlands and marked a significant advance in terms of the country’s cricket ambitions.
Behind the scenes, the team will benefit from an experienced coaching and support staff. John Davison was appointed head coach for the tournament, while Kevin O’Brien and Douglas Brown served as assistant coaches. Team operations will be managed by Peter Di Venuto as Italy prepares for the challenges of a global event.
In the group stage, Italy will take part in Group C, where it will face tough opponents. The group includes two-time champions England and the West Indies, as well as Bangladesh and Nepal.
Squad: Wayne Madsen, Marcus Campopiano (week), Gian Piero Meade, Zain Ali, Ali Hasan, Crishan Jorge, Harry Manenti, Anthony Mosca, Justin Mosca, Syed Naqvi, Benjamin Manenti, Jaspreet Singh, JJ Smuts, Grant Stewart, Thomas Draca
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