As previously confirmed, experienced campaigner Wayne Madsen will captain the European side as they make their long-awaited World Cup debut.
The standout inclusion in the squad is JJ Smuts, the former South Africa all-rounder who brings valuable international experience, having played 13 T20 Internationals. However, Italy will miss the services of Emilio Gay, who has been ruled out due to injury.
Italy booked their place in the tournament after a historic run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier 2025, finishing second with memorable victories over Scotland and Guernsey. Their qualification was sealed alongside the Netherlands, with the win over Scotland proving a defining moment in Italian cricket history.
The coaching setup will be led by John Davison as head coach, with Kevin O’Brien and Douglas Brown serving as assistant coaches. Peter Di Venuto will act as team manager during the tournament.
Italy have been placed in Group C, alongside two-time champions England and West Indies, as well as Bangladesh and Nepal, setting up a challenging but exciting debut campaign on the global stage.
Italy squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Wayne Madsen (c), Marcus Campopiano, 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, Thomas Draca.
