Italy’s Cricket Revolution: From AC Milan’s Roots to a Historic T20 World Cup Debut

On 9 February 2026, Italy will make its maiden ICC Men’s T20 World Cup appearance. From AC Milan’s cricket origins to stunning wins over Scotland and Ireland, this is how cricket is rewriting Italy’s sporting history.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Italy Cricket (Image Source: Google)

Most likely, many in Italy will not be aware that on 9th February 2026, with Italy making its T20 World Cup debut (25th different team to qualify for the event), cricket shall be put on the country’s football map, creating history for Italy.

Facts no one remembers:

*Famous 125 year old football club AC Milan was founded as the Milan Cricket and Football Club.

* In the Europe Qualifier, Italy beat Guernsey and Scotland (registered its first ever win against an ODI-status nation), held in The Hague and secured a spot for the ICC Men’s 2026 T20 World Cup. This is the first time ever Italy has qualified for the world event.

For a country with a rich sporting culture in football (they are 4 time FIFA World Cup champions) and several other disciplines, playing in the T20 World Cup may act as a catalyst to spark lost interest in cricket. Cricket is penetrating with almost zero bases.

The first step was ICC T20 World Cup qualification which was no less than a project. The professional cricketers from Australia and England were recruited. Australia Test cricketer Joe Burns (23 Tests: made his Test debut along with KL Rahul during the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia in 2014) was the first big name, followed by the present skipper Wayne Madsen. Cricket was brought on the TVs. For Burns, this WC qualification was more than just a professional milestone and he was all set to lead the team in the T20 WC.

However, all was not rosy as reflected. A contract dispute with the Burns (captain during the qualifying campaign) led to his shocking sacking.

Madsen was handed over the reins. He has represented Kwa-Zulu Natal and Derbyshire in first-class cricket, and played in the Hundred, BPL, PSL and SA20.

Trivia;

* In 2001, Italy pulled out of the ICC Trophy when ICC found four Italian players (di Venuto, Joe Scuderi-Australia, Benito Giordano -UK and Andy Corbellari-South Africa), are ineligible to play for them.

*It was only after the re-inclusion of cricket in the Olympics, the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) provided cricket its own ground with a dressing room and training facilities, with the hope that one day it can become a really big Olympic sport.

* The players now identified have largely the same background of either having moved to the country or having familial roots there.

Ben and Harry Manenti- They came on the back of regular outings in the Big Bash League with Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers respectively.

Emilio Gay, Thomas Draca and Grant Stewart- Their respective mothers are Italian.

Anthony and Justin Mosca- Both parents are from the country.

Madsen- Born in Durban and qualified for Italian citizenship by descent.

Jaspreet Singh- He moved to Telgate (a town 60km north-east of Milan) from India in 2006, with the family.

Head coach John Davison- He is a former Canada captain, who played the 2003, 2007 and 2011 World Cups.

Assistant coach Dougie Brown- He played for Scotland in the 2007 World Cup.

Incidentally both Italy's head coach and assistant coach had the record for fastest 100 in men's Cricket World Cup at some point of time.

John Davison’s record (v WI in 2003) was later broken by Hayden in the 2007 WC and then Hayden's record was broken by Kevin O'Brien, a hundred in just 50 balls (v ENG in 2011)

*Skipper Madsen has represented South Africa in the 2006 Hockey World Cup in Germany and at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games that year.

*Sri Lankan-origin Crishan Kalugamage is a former track-and-field athlete.

*JJ Smuts- Former South Africa international, once reached the Under-19 World Cup final with South Africa in 2007-08, He qualified for a passport through marriage. He has never visited Italy.

* They are ranked 28th in the T20I standings.

* So far 10 teams, playing in this T20 WC, have qualified for the 2026 FIFA WC also but Italy is not among them.

Before heading to India Italy upset Ireland in the 3rd T20I to register their first-ever win over a full ICC member. This has now sent ripples through the cricketing world. Italy are in Group C at the 2026 T20 World Cup along with Scotland, England, Nepal and West Indies. A win could herald a new dawn for cricket in Italy.