Former Australian cricketer Joe Burns has been named the T20I captain of Italy, taking over from Gareth Berg.
This announcement comes as Italy prepares for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Regional Final, aiming for qualification in the 2026 tournament in India and Sri Lanka.
Burns, 35, is eligible to play for Italy through his maternal lineage. A veteran of 23 Test matches and six ODIs for Australia, he made his debut for Italy earlier this year in the Sub-regional qualifier A.
Burns made a significant impact, scoring 211 runs in five innings, which helped Italy progress to the regional final.
Excited about his new role, Burns expressed confidence in the team’s potential and determination to make history by qualifying for their first-ever T20 World Cup.
The Europe Regional Final, scheduled for 2025, features tough competitors like Guernsey, Jersey, Netherlands, and Scotland. Only the top two teams will secure a spot in the global tournament.
With Burns’ international experience and leadership, Italy hopes to strengthen their performance and achieve a milestone in their cricketing journey.
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