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Italy national cricket team

Men's national cricket team


Men's national cricket team

FieldValue
nameItaly
imageItalia mens cricket team logo.svg
image_size120px
nicknameGli Azzurri ()
associationItalian Cricket Federation
coachJohn Davison
captainWayne Madsen (T20I)
Marcus Campopiano (List A)
icc_statusAffiliate
icc_member_year1984
icc_status2Associate member
icc_member_year21995
icc_regionEurope
t20i_rank27th
t20i_rank_best22nd (16 June 2019)
first_matchv at Bagsværd; 15 July 1989
first_t20v at Dubai; 13 March 2012
wcq_apps2
wcq_first1997
wcq_bestFirst round (1997, 2001)
first_t20iv at Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd, Utrecht; 25 May 2019
most_recent_t20iv at The Sevens Stadium, Dubai; 26 January 2026
num_t20is39
num_t20is_this_year3
t20i_record25/13 (0 ties, 1 no result)
t20i_record_this_year1/2 (0 ties, 0 no results)
wt20_apps1
wt20_first2026
wt20_bestTBD
wt20q_apps4
wt20q_first2012
wt20q_best2nd place (2025)
a_pattern_b_blue_bandshoulder
a_leftarm0040CD
a_body0040CD
a_rightarm0040CD
a_pants0040CD
a_titleList A kit
t_pattern_b_ita_t20wc26
t_leftarm0053D8
t_body0053D8
t_rightarm0053D8
t_pants0053D8
asofdate27 January 2026

Marcus Campopiano (List A)

The Italy men's national cricket team is the team that represents Italy in men's international cricket. They have been an associate member of the International Cricket Council since 1995, having previously been an affiliate member since 1984. The Italy national cricket team is administered by the Italian Cricket Federation.

History

Early history

The earliest mention of cricket in Italy is of a match played by Admiral Nelson's sailors in 1793 during a stop in Naples harbour. Around the end of the 19th century, several combined cricket and association football clubs formed, including the world-famous A.C. Milan, which was originally the Milan Cricket and Football Club and the first Italian football team Genoa Cricket and Football Club, which was originally the Genoa Cricket & Athletic Club. But these clubs soon forgot about cricket and concentrated on football. Cricket started to be revived after the Second World War. Cricket flourished in Rome in the 1960s at a superb field which looked across to St. Peter's dome from Villa Doria Pamphili. The Australian and British embassies, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the Commonwealth War Graves Association, the Venerable English College and Beda College fielded teams which competed for the Rome Ashes there until, in the 1970s, the Villa became a public park.

When cricket resumed in Rome on other grounds at the end of the 1970s, four of the Villa Doria Pamphili-era players formed in 1980 the Doria Pamphili Cricket Club: the Italian-Sri Lankan Francis Alphonsus Jayarajah, the Italian-Indian Massimo da Costa, the Australian Desmond O'Grady and the Syrian Issam Kahale

In the same period, some cricket was played in the northern part of Italy with the Milan Cricket Club being formed in the 1970s and Euratom CC in the 1980s.

Modern history

The "Federazione Cricket Italiana" (Italian Cricket Federation) was formed in 1980, and they became an affiliate member of the ICC in 1984, and were promoted to associate member in 1995. Italy at CricketArchive

The first record match by the Italy national team was touring their first UK Tour in August 1984 and played a week of cricket against local London clubs, the first losing against Enfield CC, but ending on a high with their first win in the last match against North Middlesex.

The first international match played by the Italy national team was a draw against Denmark in 1989.

After years of matches against neighboring nations such as France and Germany, in 1996, Italy took part in the first European Championship in Denmark, finishing seventh after beating Israel in a play-off. They took part in the ICC Trophy for the first time in the 1997 tournament and performed poorly, finishing joint last out of the 22 participants. They finished fifth in the following year's European Championship in which they caused the biggest upset to date in the history of the game by beating the England XI in the promotion/relegation playoff.

In 1999, Italy took part in a quadrangular tournament in Gibraltar also featuring France and Israel. They won the tournament, beating the hosts in the final. They finished fifth in Division One of the European Championship the following year and were due to participate in the 2001 ICC Trophy, but pulled out at the last minute due to a dispute over the eligibility of four players, Italian citizens by birth but not resident in Italy. The dispute was happily resolved by ICC a year later with the recognition of citizenship as a criterion for eligibility in national teams.

The 2002 European Championship saw Italy finish sixth in Division One, relegating them for 2004 to Division Two, which they promptly won. This qualified them for the repêchage tournament for the 2005 ICC Trophy in early 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They finished seventh in that tournament after beating Zambia in a play-off.

They took part in Division One of the European Championship in 2006, finishing fifth. In May–June 2007, they travelled to Darwin, Australia, to take part in Division Three of the World Cricket League. They finished seventh after beating Fiji in a play-off, and played in Division Four of the World Cricket League in 2008 to come third and remained in 2010 ICC World Cricket League Division Four. With a second-place finish there, they were promoted to 2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Three, where they came 4th to remain in 2013 ICC World Cricket League Division Three. They had a chance of reaching the 2015 Cricket World Cup, if they finished in the top two in the 2013 ICC World Cricket League Division Three, and then in the top two of the 2013 Cricket World Cup Qualifier. An encouraging start to this tournament witnessed wins over Oman (9 wickets) and United States (8 runs), followed by defeats, narrowly to Ireland (2 wickets) and more comprehensively against Kenya (7 wickets). After finishing last in this tournament they were relegated to Division Four in 2014.

In November 2013 they competed in the 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in the UAE, their highest level of competition to date. They finished 9th place with victories over the US, and higher-ranked opponents in UAE and Namibia.

2018–present

In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Italy and other ICC members since 1 January 2019 have the T20I status.

In September 2018, Italy qualified from Group B of the 2018–19 ICC World Twenty20 Europe Qualifier to the Regional Finals of the tournament.

Italy played their first T20I against Germany in May 2019.

In 2023, it was reported that Italy had pursued a strategy of recruiting professional cricketers from Australia and England to play in the regional final of the 2022–23 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier. The recruits, while holding Italian passports and meeting ICC regulations for representing the country, may have arguably only tenuous direct connections with Italy. On July 11, 2025, following a stunning 12-run upset over Scotland at the European Regional Final, Italy sealed a spot at the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup after finishing at third-place beating Jersey on net run rate.

Tournament records

  • – Champions
  • – Runners-up
  • – Third place/Semi-finals
  • – Host
  • – Promoted
  • – Remained in the same division
  • – Relegated

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

Main article: Italy at the Men's T20 World Cup

Men's T20 World Cup recordsYear/HostRoundPositionGPWLTNR
South Africa 2007Did not qualify
England 2009
West Indies 2010
Sri Lanka 2012
Bangladesh 2014
India 2016
UAE Oman 2021
AUS 2022
USA WIN 2024
India Sri Lanka 2026Qualified
Total1/10000000

ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier

ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier recordsHost/YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
IRE 2008Did not qualify
UAE 2010
UAE 2012Play-offs (DNQ)10/1693600
UAE 2013Play-offs (DNQ)9/1693501
IRE SCO 2015Did not qualify
UAE 2019
OMA 2022
Total2/70 Titles1861101
  • Q - Qualified for the T20 World Cup.
  • DNQ - Did not qualify for the T20 World Cup.

ICC T20 World Cup Europe Regional Final

ICC T20 World Cup Europe Regional Final recordsYearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
Guernsey 2019Round-robin3/653200
Spain 2021Round-robin3/463300
Scotland 2023Round-robin3/763201
Netherlands 2025Round-robin (Q)2/542101
Total4/40 Titles 2111802
  • Q - Qualified for the T20 World Cup.

ICC T20 Europe Sub-regional Qualifiers

ICC Twenty20 Europe Sub-regional Qualifiers recordsHost/YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
NED 2018–19Round-robin (A)1/655000
FIN 2022–23Round-robin (A)1/555000
ITA 2024Round-robin (A)1/555000
Total3/33 Titles1515000
  • A - Advanced to the regional final.

Cricket World Cup Qualifier

Cricket World Cup Qualifier recordsHost/YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
ENG 1979Not eligible–Not an ICC member
ENG 1982
ENG 1986
NED 1990Not eligible–ICC affiliate member
KEN 1994
MAS 1997Group stage21/2140400
NAM 2001Qualified, but withdrew
IRE 2005Did not qualify
Total1/80 Titles40400

European Cricket Championship

European Cricket Championship recordsHost/YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
DEN 1996Round-robin7/830300
NED 1998Round-robin5/1042200
SCO 2000Round-robin5/651400
IRE 2002Round-robin6/651400
BEL 2004Did not participate
SCO 2006Round-robin5/540400
GUE 2008Round-robin5/651301
GUE 2010Round-robin6/651400
Total7/80 Titles3162401

European T20 Championship Division One

European T20 Championship Division One recordsYearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
Jersey 2011Round-robinRunners-up75200
England 2013Round-robinChampions77000
Jersey 2015Round-robin3/653200
Total3/31 Title 1915400

ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League

Cricket World Cup Challenge League recordsYearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
OMA 2019–22Round-robin ()9/12155901
UGA 2024–26In Progress107102
Total2/20 Title 25121003

ICC CWC Challenge League Play-off

Cricket World Cup Challenge League Play-off recordsYearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
MAS 2024Super 6s ()2/885300
Total1/10 Title 85300

ICC World Cricket League Division Three

ICC World Cricket League Division Three recordsHost/YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
AUS 2007Group stage ()7/853200
HKG 2009Did not qualify
HKG 2011Group stage ()4/673400
BER 2013Group stage ()6/660600
MAS 2014Did not qualify
UGA 2017
OMA 2018
Total3/70 Title 1861200

ICC World Cricket League Division Four

ICC World Cricket League Division Four recordsHost/YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
TAN 2008Round-robin ()4/663300
ITA 2010Round-robin ()2/654100
MAS 2012Did not participate (part of division three)
SIN 2014Round-robin ()4/662400
USA 2016Round-robin ()6/661500
MAS 2018Did not qualify
Total4/60 Title 23101300

ICC World Cricket League Division Five

ICC World Cricket League Division Five recordsHost/YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
JER 2008Did not participate
NEP 2010
SIN 2012
MAS 2014
JER 2016
RSA 2017Semi-finals ()4/853200
Total1/60 Title 53200

Current squad

Italy's squad for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup Europe Regional Final in July 2025 included the following players:

NameAgeBatting styleBowling styleNotesBattersAll-roundersWicket-keepersSpin BowlersPace Bowlers
Emilio GayLeft-handed-
Anthony MoscaRight-handedRight-arm off break
Justin MoscaLeft-handed-
Zain NaqviRight-handedRight-arm medium-fast
Syed NaqviRight-handedRight-arm medium
Zain AliRight-handedRight-arm off break
Wayne MadsenRight-handedRight-arm off breakCaptain
Grant StewartRight-handedRight-arm fast-medium
Damith KosalaLeft-handedLeft-arm orthodox spin
Jaspreet SinghRight-handedRight-arm fast-medium
Benjamin ManentiRight-handedRight-arm off break
Harry ManentiRight-handedRight-arm off break
Marcus CampopianoRight-handed-
Gian-Piero MeadeRight-handedRight-arm medium
Crishan KalugamageRight-handedRight-arm leg spin
Thomas DracaRight-handedRight-arm fast
Bilal MuhammadRight-handedRight-arm medium-fast

Coaching staff

RoleName
Head CoachJohn Davison
Assistant CoachDougie Brown
Assistant CoachKevin O’Brien
Team ManagerPeter DiVenuto
PhysiotherapistThihan Chandramohan
Strength & Conditioning CoachMarco Mastrorocco
AnalystMohsin Sheikh

International grounds

GroundCityRegionCapacityMatches hostedNotes
Roma Cricket GroundRomeLazio1,000T20Is, ICC qualifiersMain venue for Italy's national team; hosted ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifiers
Jesselton Cricket GroundJesoloVeneto800T20IsUsed for ICC Europe development tournaments
Simar Cricket GroundPalermoSicily1,200T20IsHosts international matches; part of ICC Europe's southern development region

Records and statistics

International Match Summary — Italy

Last updated 26 January 2026

FormatMWLTNRInaugural Match
Twenty20 Internationals3925130125 May 2019

Twenty20 International

  • Highest team total: 244/4 v. Romania on 16 June 2024 at Simar Cricket Ground, Palermo.
  • Highest individual score: 108*, Joe Burns v. Romania on 16 June 2024 at Simar Cricket Ground, Palermo.
  • Best individual bowling figures: 5/14, Stefano di Bartolomeo v. Germany on 28 July 2023 at The Grange Club, Edinburgh.

Most T20I runs for Italy

PlayerRunsAverageCareer span
Anthony Mosca47939.912022–2026
Marcus Campopiano47531.662022–2026
Grant Stewart47329.562021–2026
Justin Mosca38121.162022–2026
Joy Perera36728.232019–2022

Most T20I wickets for Italy

PlayerWicketsAverageCareer span
Harry Manenti3413.292022–2026
Jaspreet Singh2321.212019–2026
Gareth Berg2016.452022–2024
Crishan Kalugamage2018.152022–2026
Grant Stewart1720.112021–2026

T20I record versus other nations

Records complete to T20I #3670. Last updated 26 January 2026.

OpponentMWLTNRFirst matchFirst win
vs Full Members
4130020 July 202326 January 2026
vs Associate Members
1100016 July 202216 July 2022
5310118 June 201915 October 2021
1100013 July 202213 July 2022
1100010 June 202410 June 2024
8530025 May 201925 May 2019
1100012 July 202212 July 2022
2200016 June 201916 June 2019
2200019 July 202219 July 2022
4130019 June 201923 July 2023
110009 June 20249 June 2024
1010011 July 2025
1100015 June 201915 June 2019
1100016 June 202416 June 2024
2110024 July 20239 July 2025
211005 November 20226 November 2022
1100015 July 202215 July 2022
1100013 June 202413 June 2024

Notes

References

References

  1. "Italy axe captain Joe Burns for Men's T20 World Cup 2026". Cricbuzz.
  2. (3 December 2024). "Joe Burns nuovo capitano della Nazionale italiana di cricket T20". Cricket Italia.
  3. "Article about Italian cricket".
  4. (10 October 2013). "Italian Cricket Club Ilario Lombardo, Giacomo Fasola, Francesco".
  5. "The European Club Cricket Tournament Rome Capanelle CC (Italy) squad".
  6. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/1996/TOURNAMENTS/EUROCHAMS/about.shtml 1996 European Championship] {{webarchive. link. (5 July 2008 at CricketEurope)
  7. [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1996-97/OTHERS+ICC/ICCT97/ 1997 ICC Trophy] {{Webarchive. link. (12 March 2007 at [[Cricinfo]])
  8. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/1998/TOURNAMENTS/EUROCHAMS/about.shtml 1998 European Championship] {{webarchive. link. (9 July 2008 at CricketEurope)
  9. [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1999/OTHERS+ICC/GQIT/ 1999 Gibraltar quadrangular] at Cricinfo
  10. [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1999/OTHERS+ICC/GQIT/GIBR_ITALY_GQIT_25SEP1999.html Scorecard] of Gibraltar v Italy, 25 September 1999 at Cricinfo
  11. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2000/TOURNAMENTS/EUROCHAMS/about.shtml 2000 European Championship] {{webarchive. link. (5 July 2008 at CricketEurope)
  12. [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/103659.html Italy Withdraws from ICC Trophy], ICC Media Release, 25 June 2001
  13. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2002/TOURNAMENTS/EUROCHAMS/RESULTS/about.shtml 2002 European Championship Official site] {{webarchive. link. (6 January 2009 , results section)
  14. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2004/TOURNAMENTS/EUROCHAMSB/results.shtml 2004 European Championship Division Two results] {{webarchive. link. (1 July 2009 , [[European Cricket Council]] website)
  15. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/102/102371.html Scorecard] of Italy v Zambia, 27 February 2005 at CricketArchive
  16. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2006/TOURNAMENTS/EURODIV1/about.shtml 2006 European Championship Division One] {{webarchive. link. (8 March 2011 at CricketEurope)
  17. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000046/004698.shtml Uganda lift Division Three title] {{webarchive. link. (24 May 2011 by Andrew Nixon, 2 June 2007 at CricketEurope)
  18. (26 April 2018). "All T20 matches between ICC members to get international status". [[International Cricket Council]].
  19. "Italy secure place in European final". Cricket Europe.
  20. Roller, Matt. (22 February 2023). "Johnson, Madsen, Manenti sign up for Berg's Italian Job".
  21. Abraham, Timothy. (July 9, 2025). "Italy on verge of T20 World Cup after stunning Scotland".
  22. Gayler, Maya. (July 10, 2025). "Italy One Win Away from T20 World Cup Dream After Upset Over Scotland".
  23. Abraham, Timothy. (July 11, 2025). "Italy qualify for T20 World Cup for first time as Jersey miss out".
  24. (July 11, 2025). "Italy qualify for men's T20 World Cup for the first time in history, to play in 2026 edition hosted by India, Sri Lanka".
  25. "ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier gets underway in Scotland". International Cricket Council.
  26. "Records / Italy / Twenty20 Internationals / Result summary". [[ESPNcricinfo]].
  27. "Records / Italy / Twenty20 Internationals / Highest totals". [[ESPNcricinfo]].
  28. "Records / Italy / Twenty20 Internationals / High scores". [[ESPNcricinfo]].
  29. "Records / Italy / Twenty20 Internationals / Best bowling figures". [[ESPNcricinfo]].
  30. "Records / Italy / Twenty20 Internationals / Most runs". [[ESPNcricinfo]].
  31. "Records / Italy / Twenty20 Internationals / Most wickets". [[ESPNcricinfo]].
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