Italy’s national football team have failed to qualify for the past two World Cups. As fraught followers of the Azzurri will be grimly aware, their men’s side must navigate the play-offs in March to avoid missing a third consecutive tournament.

When Italy walked onto the field at the ongoing T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, the one thing they were confident about was their Italian spirit and the effort they wanted to put into this historic campaign.

AC Milan and Juventus began with cricket on their agendas, but the sport pretty much vanished in the 1900s, till some people - locals and expats - revived it. Here, they recount that story

Italy have ambitions of hosting top-class cricket from Rome to Milan and Bologna after a historic and emotional first T20 World Cup victory. "That will provide opportunities for kids who are currently in Italy learning the game at a school level to see us playing in Rome or Milan or Bologna.

Italy is finally heading to the World Cup — just not in the sport most people might expect. Amid dark times for the country’s storied but ailing soccer team, some salvation comes in the form of the Azzurri’s unheralded cricketers after their first ...

West Indies vs Italy Live Score - Live Cricket Scorecard WI vs ITA, Match 37, ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2026, Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Italy failed to chase down 166 runs against the West Indies as they bowed out of the T20 World Cup with one win from four matches. However, they impressed in their first appearance at the mega event and also smacked more sixes than teams like Pakistan and Australia.

Cricket ban is part of a broader set of measures introduced during Cisint’s tenure.