Italy announces squad for first-ever T20 World Cup
Wayne Madsen will lead the Italian national cricket team in their maiden T20 World Cup campaign as they prepare to take on the world’s best teams on the big stage for the first time. The European squad has added experienced all-rounder JJ Smuts, who has played 13 T20Is for South Africa, adding valuable international experience to the squad for the showpiece event.
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The Italian national cricket team has been placed in Group C alongside heavyweights such as two-time champions England and the West Indies, as well as Bangladesh and Nepal. The Italy side will start their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Bangladesh on February 9 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The Italian national cricket team will be led by head coach John Davison, the former Canadian cricketer, with former Irish batsman Kevin O’Brien and former Scottish cricketer Douglas Brown as assistant coaches, and Australian Peter Di Venuto as manager.
Italy Squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2026:
Wayne Madsen (C), Marcus Campopiano (WK), Gian Piero Meade, Zain Ali, Ali Hasan, Crisian Jorge, Harry Mantenty, Anthony Mosca, Justin Mosca, Syed Naqvi, Benjamin Mantwat, Jasreet Singh, JJ Smuts, Grant Stewat and Thomas Draca.
Meanwhile, the Azzurri earned their place in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup after a historic performance in the 2025 ICC T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, finishing second behind the Netherlands with impressive wins over Scotland and Guernsey.
Italy qualified for the showpiece event alongside the Netherlands through the qualifying matches. Ahead of the showpiece, Italy are all set to take on Italy in a high-stakes three-match T20I series in Dubai. It will be our first three-match bilateral series against a full member of the ICC.
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Ireland Series an important test before World Cup debut
This series is a perfect opportunity for both sides to test their squads, work on strategies and build momentum ahead of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. All three matches of the T20I series will take place at the iconic Sevens Stadium in Dubai from January 23.
Italy and Ireland have met in T20Is only once before, and that was in the 2023 T20 World Cup Qualifiers, where the Irish side defeated the Azzurri by seven points. Italy will look to learn and gain valuable experience from the Ireland series as they prepare for their T20 World Cup debut.
Maria Lorena Haz Paz, president of the Federazione Cricket Italiana, had stated: “We look forward to the matches as we make history and, we hope, raise the profile and support for our cricket team across Italy – and perhaps even win a few fans around the world.”
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