HISTORY FOR ITALY
Italy have qualified for the first time to the T20 World Cup © Getty
Azzurri will be in the World Cup, not in football but cricket, as Italy have created history by qualifying for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup. They lost their last game to the Netherlands on Friday in Hague but their Net Run Rate was good enough to earn them a berth in the mega event in India and Sri Lanka next year.
The final day of the Europe Qualifiers for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was a roller-coaster ride with all four sides playing on the day – Netherlands, Italy, Scotland and Jersey – in contention heading into the last two matches. Eventually, both the Netherlands and Italy confirmed their presence for the marquee event.
For Italy, it’ll be their first ever qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. After being restricted to 134 for 7, Italy needed to hold Netherlands for at least 14 overs in order to qualify. Italy pipped Jersey, who had beaten Scotland earlier in the day, on superior NRR .
Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd got the hosts off to a flier in the PowerPlay that took the momentum away from Italy early on but the visitors made sure to stretch the match till the 17th over to help themselves book a berth to India and Sri Lanka next year.
In the first innings, the experienced Roelof van der Merwe helped Netherlands restrict Italy to a moderate total picking three wickets and giving away just 15 runs in his four overs.
Italy kept losing wickets in regular intervals and couldn’t stitch together a partnership to sustain the innings as Kyle Klein’s spell aided by van der Merwe’s tight bowling didn’t allow the visitors to score easily.
A steady knock by Benjamin Manenti and a late blitz by Grant Stewarts pushed Italy to a total of 134 for 7 in their 20 overs, which Netherlands eventually chased down comfortably, but it was enough for Italy to qualify for their first-ever World Cup tournament.
As many as 15 teams have qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 so far; the Asia EAP qualifier will see three more sides qualify from the competition while two further teams will make it through from the Africa qualifier.
Teams qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as on July 11 are: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, USA and West Indies.
Jay Shah immediately congratulated Italy on their feat stating, “An amazing result for@KNCBcricket and@FedCricket, qualifying for the@ICC Men’s@T20WorldCup 2026 through the Europe Qualifier. For Italy, it will be their first-ever appearance at the tournament that India will defend early next year. Well done to both teams! (sic).”
© Cricbuzz
