Italy Announces Squad and Captain for Maiden T20 World Cup 2026 Debut

Italy will make their debut in the Men's T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka. Wayne Madsen, a Derbyshire player with an Italian passport, has been named captain after Joe Burns was excluded due to availability issues. The 15-member squad includes former South Africa international JJ Smuts and fast bowling all-rounder Grant Stewart. Italy qualified by finishing second in the 2025 Europe Regional Final and will compete in Group C against Bangladesh, Nepal, England, and West Indies. The team is coached by John Davison, with Kevin O'Brien and Douglas Brown as assistants.