T20 World Cup: Italy ready to test Nepal

None of the 15 team members were born in Italy, and only a few of them are fluent in the language.

Many players hold Italian passports or qualify because of a relative, and some people have objected to the Italian Cricket Federation casting their nets too wide rather than focusing on developing more home-grown players.

Born in South Africa and capped by South Africa (six ODIs and 16 T20Is between 2017 and 2021) all-rounder JJ Smuts will play for Italy during the tournament thanks to his marriage but has never set foot in the country.

“People can have their opinion but we have a real alliance,” says captain Wayne Madsen, speaking ahead of his side’s opening match against Scotland on Monday, which saw him dislocate his shoulder and his side suffer a devastating defeat.

The 42-year-old South African-born player is captain of the Derbyshire club and has extensive experience with teams all over the world. However, this group of players had a real impact on him.

“That heritage and the journeys that guys took to get here, there’s a connection that’s hard to describe outside of the feeling we have as a group,” Madsen said.

“That’s probably really our biggest strength. Everyone has a story to tell in terms of how they got to this position and everyone is unique. Whether it’s guys who grew up in Italy or guys whose grandparents moved away many years ago. We’ve had some really powerful conversations. It’s really bonded us.”

For Madsen and Davison, success on the field in this tournament is part of a wider plan to build on Italy’s growing cricketing roots.

“We want to win games and we know and believe we can do that,” says Madsen. “If we can finish in the top eight, it will change the lives of a lot of our cricketers and put Italian cricket on the map.”

“I think the main thing for us is to leave a legacy in Italy and a platform to develop the game further in the country.”