Italy’s Historic T20 World Cup 2026 Qualification: A New Era for Cricket in Europe - Best11.in

There’s no need to introduce Italian football, as the Azzurri are quite famous. Italy is a country that has achieved great success in the World Cup. However, they failed to qualify for the last two World Cups, and their qualification for the 2026 World Cup is also in doubt. But they have qualified for another World Cup in 2026—the Cricket World Cup. Italy has qualified for the T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka in 2026, marking their first-ever qualification for this tournament.

Around 32 countries from the European region competed in the qualifier stages. After multiple rounds, the final stage featured five teams, and Italy secured a World Cup spot by finishing second. Another country, Jersey, had the same points, but Italy’s superior net run rate, despite losing their final match, helped them secure qualification. 

Four European teams will participate in the next World Cup. England and Ireland have already qualified based on rankings, while the Netherlands and Italy have now qualified through the qualifiers. The Netherlands, in particular, has a history of playing in World Cups, though they haven’t achieved major success in ODI or T20 formats. Italy, however, is a new entrant. 

When we look at Italy’s strength, it’s clear how this revolution happened. Their team includes many players born in cricket-popular countries who started their cricket careers there. Their captain, Joe Burns, was born in Australia and played international matches for Australia in Tests and ODIs from 2014 to 2020. In 2024, he began playing for Italy due to his Italian roots. Similarly, players like Emiliano Gay, born in England, and others from cricket-playing nations like South Africa and even India can be seen in the team. Jaspreet Singh, born in Punjab, also plays for Italy. However, there are only one or two truly Italian-born players in the squad.

This phenomenon is similar to the USA team, which played in the last T20 World Cup as one of the host nations. Their team also included players from cricket-popular countries, like Corey Anderson, who previously played for New Zealand. This trend is common: players from established cricket nations often represent emerging cricket countries. Over time, as cricket becomes more popular in these countries, players born there or with local roots will emerge.

The T20 format is highly popular, with many countries participating in qualifiers and friendly matches. This is an advantage. The USA, for instance, exceeded expectations last year by advancing to the Super 8 stage in a group that included India and Pakistan. Whether Italy can achieve similar success in the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will feature 20 teams, remains to be seen.