Italy have on Saturday (January 17) announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, starting on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. It will be a historic occasion as Italy will make their debut in the upcoming edition of the ICC T20 World Cup.
Italy announce squad for first-ever T20 World Cup
Wayne Madsen will lead the Italy 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 side has added experienced all-rounder JJ Smuts, who has played 13 T20Is for South Africa, bringing valuable international experience to the team for the showpiece event.
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The Italy National Cricket Team is placed in Group C alongside heavyweights like two-time champions England and West Indies, as well as Bangladesh and Nepal. The Italian side will begin their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Bangladesh on February 9 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The Italy National Cricket Team will be guided by head coach John Davison, former Canadian cricketer, with former Ireland batter Kevin O’Brien and former Scottish cricketer Douglas Brown as assistant coaches, and Australia’s Peter Di Venuto taking charge as manager.
Italy Squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2026:
Wayne Madsen (C), Marcus Campopiano (WK), 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, and Thomas Draca.
Meanwhile, the Azzurri earned their spot in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 after a historic performance in the ICC T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier 2025, finishing second behind the Netherlands with impressive wins over Scotland and Guernsey.
Italy qualified for the showpiece event alongside the Netherlands through the qualifiers. Before the showpiece event, Italy are all set to face 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.
Ireland Series a Key Test Before World Cup Debut
This series is a perfect chance for both sides to test their squads, work on strategies, and build momentum ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. All three matches of the T20I series will take place at the iconic Sevens Stadium in Dubai, starting from January 23.
Italy and Ireland have met only once in T20Is before, and that was in the 2023 T20 World Cup qualifiers, where the Irish side edged out the Azzurri by 7 runs. 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 fixtures as we create history and, we hope, raise the profile and support for our cricket team across Italy—and maybe even win a few fans around the world.”
