Italy have confirmed a 15-strong squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, the country’s first appearance at a global men’s tournament. Veteran batter Wayne Madsen takes the armband, while South African all-rounder JJ Smuts and two sets of brothers add further interest to a quietly ambitious group.
Key details first
• Tournament runs 7 February–8 March, split into a first-round group stage followed by a Super Eight and knock-outs.
• Italy sit in Group C with Bangladesh, England, Nepal and West Indies.
• Opening fixture v Bangladesh, 9 February, Kolkata.
Selection talking points
Madsen’s appointment had been expected once former Australia opener Joe Burns lost the captaincy late last year. Burns, who led the successful qualification campaign, misses out altogether after a lean European qualifier in July, where Italy still finished second behind Netherlands.
Head coach John Davison has leaned on familiarity. Off-spinning pair Harry and Benjamin Manenti retain their places; so too do brothers Anthony and Justin Mosca, useful options in the middle order and in the outfield. Smuts, 37, offers left-handed ballast and a few overs of slow left-arm, experience the selectors clearly value for a demanding travel schedule—Kolkata to Mumbai and back in the space of a week.
Coaching and background
Davison is assisted by former Ireland opener Kevin O’Brien and ex-Scotland all-rounder Dougie Brown—coaches who know plenty about punching above traditional weight. Qualification last summer owed much to a tight bowling unit. Seamers Jaspreet Singh and Grant Stewart again spearhead that attack, with teenager Thomas Draca retained after lively displays in Jersey.
Group-stage logistics
After facing Bangladesh, Italy fly to Mumbai to meet Nepal on 12 February, then return to Eden Gardens for England (16 February) and West Indies (19 February). Top two sides progress to the Super Eight; anything beyond would be a sizeable achievement, though internal targets are deliberately modest.
Tournament structure (quick refresher, for casual readers)
20 teams → four groups of five.
Top two in each group → Super Eight (two groups of four).
Top two in each Super Eight group → semi-finals, then the final in Colombo on 8 March.
Italy squad
Zain Ali, Marcus Campopiano (wk), Ali Hasan, Crishan Kalugamage, Wayne Madsen (capt), Harry Manenti, Gian Piero Meade, Anthony Mosca, Justin Mosca, Syed Naqvi, Benjamin Manenti, Jaspreet Singh, JJ Smuts, Grant Stewart, Thomas Draca.
Early assessment
Plenty of experience, a sprinkle of youthful pace, and the novelty of a first World Cup: Italy will hope that blend keeps them competitive deep into February. Anything more, and the campaign becomes a landmark not just for them but for European associate cricket at large.
