Cricket in Italy dates back to 1793 with Admiral Horatio Nelson organising the first ever recorded match in Naples. Italian Cricket’s most memorable moment came in 1998 when the Azurri surprised the English Cricket Board XI, beating them in the European Championships.
Italy has been an associate member of the ICC since 1995. Ranked 26 in the ICC Men’s T20Is team rankings, Italy are not quite at full-strength as they will feature in the upcoming European regional qualifiers for the 2022 T20 World Cup. Boasting some proven performers from ECS events over the last two years, Italy recovered from a horrific start, losing four games on the trot.
A famous win over England XI injected new life into Italy's campaign, winning six games on the trot, before finishing runners-up in Group C.
🇮🇹 SCENES! ITALY CELEBRATE MAGNIFICENT WIN AGAINST ENGLAND! #ECC21#ITALIA@FedCricket 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/pStIuEI8OH
— European Cricket (@EuropeanCricket) September 29, 2021
Captain: Baljit Singh
Wicket Keeper: Nisar Ahmed
Projected Top Order: Nisar Ahmed, Amir Sharif, Hassan Ahmad, Simranjit Singh
Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Imran, Ravi Paul, Amir Sharif
Spin Options: Adnan Muhammad, Jorawar Singh
Coach: KI Kamal
KEY PLAYERS
Baljit Singh, right arm medium pacer with good numbers in international T20 scalping 12 wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of 5.52. The experienced campaigner can also swing the bat hard scoring 340 runs in 13 ECS matches at a SR of 193. Star man in Italy's shock win over England with a supreme all-round display. Second highest scorer for ITA racking up 211 runs in 10 innings. Has also picked up NINE wickets.
Simranjit Singh, classical batsman, plays the straight drive and pull shot very well, can up the ante whenever required. Was the main man at FanCode ECS Italy Bologna earlier this year, top scoring for Kings XI hammering 228 runs in seven innings at a SR of 245, including an unbeaten 88 off 25 balls to take his side to an unlikely victory.
Janaka Waas, aggressive batsman, doesn’t take any time to get going, muscling 128 runs in eight innings at FanCode ECS Italy Brescia this season. He was also top wicket taker for his side picking up 10 wickets at an ER of just 5.50 including a best return of 4-9 in the Final.
Ravi Paul, left arm pacer, can swing the ball into the right hander and move it away with the angle, has good variations as well. Leading wicket taker at European Cricket Series November 2020 scalping 16 wickets in eight games. He also picked up SIX wickets in five games at FanCode ECS Italy Milan earlier this year. Returned figures of 4-7 against Germany in the last group stage game. Has picked up a total of SEVEN wickets in seven games.
Amir Sharif, second scorer in the group phase of the European Cricket Championship with 324 runs at an average of 36 and a strike-rate of 220.40 including 80* off just 26 balls in the Eliminator and 57* off 24 in the second qualifier. Top wicket taker in the tournament so far scalping 17 wickets including a best return of 4-19 vs GER in the opening game. He was the third-highest run-scorer at the FanCode ECS Italy Milan with 201 runs for Fresh Tropical, the eventual title winners.
Hassan Ahmad, hard hitting batsman, played a vital role in Jinnah Brescia’s surge to the FanCode ECS Italy Brescia title amassing 274 runs in nine innings at an average of 54.80 and a SR of over 194.The talented left hander also featured in ECL19 for Janjua Brescia and at Dream11 European Cricket Series St Gallen 2020 where he was second highest run scorer in the tournament racking up 230 runs in eight innings.
