Italy is preparing for its maiden appearance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026—where they are scheduled to face the West Indies on February 19, 2026, in Kolkata—by strengthening their squad with experienced players, appointing a high-level coaching staff, and engaging in competitive, high-level bilateral series. 

Key preparations for the match against the West Indies include:

Elite Coaching & Leadership: The team is managed by a top-tier coaching staff, including head coach John Davison and assistants Dougie Brown (former Scotland coach) and Irish cricket legend Kevin O'Brien. Wayne Madsen has been appointed to lead the squad, bringing significant experience to the captaincy.

Strengthening the Squad: Italy has utilized player eligibility regulations to bolster their side with experienced talent, including the Manenti brothers (Ben and Harry), Thomas Draca, and Grant Stewart.

Bilateral Series Experience: To prepare for the intensity of the World Cup, Italy scheduled a three-match T20I series against Ireland in Dubai in late January 2026, marking their first-ever bilateral series against an ICC Full Member.

Focus on T20 Development: As cricket grows in Italy, the team has been training as a close-knit group, aiming to prove themselves against major cricketing nations like the West Indies and England in Group C. 

Just so you know for the last year Italy's win rate was 50% while WI win rate was 28.5%

mathematically Italy will BEAT WI to pulp

While we continue to moan about finances and administration. If we cannot afford to play international cricket, we should just stop playing. We dont have snow so we dont do winter sports. No one has a problem with that.

@PalsofMine

is a cop out. wicb has been the most incompetent group of reactionaries in the history of professional sports. They make the crew that presided over the Chicago Bulls implosion look like visionaires

We played Italy in a 3 game series last week. They qualified ahead of Scotland on merit which is no mean feat in itself. Ex-Aussie opener Joe Burns was left out of the squad over some disagreement and Durham batsman Emilio Gay is injured. But the likes Madsen and Manenti are good players with good reputations and they have also recruited ex-SA international JJ Smuts. Kalugamage is a wrist spinner of Sri Lankan origin who could cause problems if there is any turn on offer.

As for the games last week, we won the first 2 comfortable(ish). Bowled them out for 118 but made hard work of chasing it. Batted them out of the game in the second but in the last one we were Brathwaited by Grant Stewart which should serve as a warning that if you give these lads a sniff, they'll hurt you. They have recruited a lot from their Australian diaspora and as you well know, Aussie cricketers play to win.

Having said all that, WI should be able to handle them. There is also the advantage of playing them last and a lot of their squad don't have the experience of such intensity so there might be too much in the legs by the time you guys play them.

Best of luck for the tournament!

@Eireannach

Thanks my Irish compatriot! Your U-19 boys got wallopped by AFG today. AFG joins Australia, England and India in the semis. I believe WI will play Bangladesh for the 7/8.

@voiceofreason

Yeah unfortunately it wasn't to be today.

It was men against boys - literally and metaphorically

Italy just hand it to Canucks

Italy just cleaned up the Nepalese.

10wicket win

@WI_cricfan

How Italy is preparing to upset West Indies

Try as they might.... Wi will wipe the smile off their faces during and after we play them... Wi will leave them with "upset" stomachs.... hahaha

Hope you come back here to eat your CROW and not say that "it was just Italy and Wi were expected to beat them" because if the opposite happens (& Wi lose), you're sure gonna gloat... let's be honest, now. 😎

@WI_cricfan

Correction 25 from 40 = 62.5

However, we have 100% record in this WC. 😀