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Italy’s Cricket Team Makes Historic World Cup Debut While Soccer Struggles
Italy is finally heading to a World Cup, but not in the sport that has defined the nation’s athletic identity for generations. While Italy’s celebrated soccer team continues to flounder, the country’s little-known cricket squad has achieved a remarkable milestone by qualifying for the T20 World Cup beginning this Saturday.
“Just to be there and playing is the end of 45 years of hard work,” said Luca Bruno Malaspina, CEO of the Italian Cricket Federation, which was established in 1980. However, cricket’s roots in Italy stretch back much further, to the late 19th century when British textile workers brought the sport with them.
This connection is evident in some of Italy’s oldest sports clubs. Genoa, Italy’s first soccer club founded in 1893, still carries the full name “Genoa Cricket and Football Club.” Similarly, AC Milan, the seven-time European soccer champion established in 1899 by Englishman Herbert Kilpin, was originally called “Milan Football & Cricket Club.”
Despite this heritage, cricket infrastructure in modern Italy remains rudimentary. The country has no grass cricket pitches, though the sport has grown to include approximately 4,000 registered male players and roughly 80 clubs competing across a two-tier league system.
The national team reflects Italy’s multicultural evolution, featuring players with Italian heritage alongside first and second-generation immigrants from cricket-playing nations. Captain Wayne Madsen, a South African who qualifies through his Italian grandmother, leads the squad. The 15-man roster includes Sri Lankan-born bowler Crishan Kalugamage, who moved to Italy as a teenager, English-born wicketkeeper Marcus Campopiano with an Italian father, and two sets of Australian brothers—Harry and Benjamin Manenti, and Anthony and Justin Mosca—all with Italian family connections.
“The quality and the numbers are going up,” Bruno Malaspina noted, crediting the largely overseas-born coaching staff for transforming players’ mindsets and raising performance standards. The team is led by head coach John Davison, a former Canadian international who grew up in Australia, with former Irish batter Kevin O’Brien serving as assistant coach.
Italy secured its World Cup berth through European regional qualifying, finishing second to the Netherlands. The team recently defeated Ireland—a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC)—marking its first victory over a top-tier cricketing nation.
This cricket breakthrough comes at a particularly bleak time for Italian soccer. The four-time World Cup champions missed qualification for both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments after unexpected playoff defeats, and now face the same uncertain pathway in their bid to reach the upcoming World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Bruno Malaspina sees an opportunity in this contrast. “The World Cup is a good way to open up cricket to Italians,” he explained. “We are not talking only about money but visibility in the Italian sport organization because they are learning now that cricket is an important sport. There are big numbers all around the world.”
The ICC recognized Italy as an Associate member in 1995, and subsequent recognition by the Italian National Olympic Committee provided access to crucial government funding. Yet significant challenges remain, particularly in infrastructure development.
Italy currently hosts its “home” international matches in other European countries like the Netherlands and England. Bruno Malaspina acknowledges that domestic cricket facilities are “very, very poor,” and the federation is working to establish at least one proper turf pitch that could serve as the spiritual home of Italian cricket.
“The problem is money and the bureaucratic things you have to do in Italy,” he admitted.
Looking ahead, the federation is exploring participation in the proposed European T20 Premier League, potentially fielding an Italian franchise by 2027. It also aims to introduce cricket in Italian schools to cultivate a new generation of players.
For now, Italian cricket is savoring its historic moment. At the World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, Italy will face Scotland, Nepal, England, and the West Indies in Group C. The matchup against cricket powerhouse England holds special significance.
“For the players and people involved with cricket, it’s the top of our story: playing against England,” Bruno Malaspina said. “I’m not talking about the result. It’s not about result, the gap is too much. But England is… what can I say? England is cricket.”
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10 Comments
Fascinating to see Italy’s cricket team making its World Cup debut! While soccer has long been the country’s sporting passion, it’s great to see cricket gaining traction. I wonder how the team will fare against more established cricket powerhouses.
Agreed, this is quite an achievement for the Italian cricket team. It will be interesting to see how their grassroots efforts and lack of domestic infrastructure compare to the more established cricket nations.
I’m curious to learn more about the challenges the Italian cricket team has faced in developing their program and infrastructure. Qualifying for the World Cup with limited domestic facilities is quite an accomplishment.
Absolutely, overcoming the lack of proper cricket pitches and other key infrastructure must have been a major hurdle for the Italian team. Their determination to make it to the World Cup is really admirable.
It’s impressive that the Italian Cricket Federation was able to grow the sport from modest beginnings in the late 19th century to reaching the World Cup stage. This speaks to the dedication and vision of those involved in developing cricket in Italy over the decades.
You’re absolutely right. The fact that cricket has persisted and progressed in Italy despite not having the same level of infrastructure and funding as soccer is a real testament to the passion and hard work of the sport’s advocates in the country.
The historical connection between cricket and some of Italy’s oldest soccer clubs is really intriguing. It makes sense that the sport took hold early on, even if it has struggled to gain mainstream popularity over the decades.
You’re right, the deep roots of cricket in Italy’s sporting culture are quite fascinating. It will be exciting to see if the national team’s World Cup debut helps spur greater investment and growth in the sport across the country.
While soccer will always be Italy’s national sport, I hope the cricket team’s success inspires more young Italians to take up the sport. A strong national cricket program could be a source of pride and bring more diversity to the country’s sports landscape.
That’s a great point. Increased participation and visibility for cricket in Italy could help broaden the country’s sporting culture beyond just soccer. It will be exciting to see if the national team’s World Cup debut leads to a surge of interest in the sport.