Italy confirm shock Joe Burns departure ahead of T20 World Cup
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Italy's cricket federation confirms Joe Burns will not participate in the T20 World Cup. Wayne Madsen named captain. Details inside. #Cricket #Italy
Italy's cricket team will head to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka without Joe Burns, confirming rumors circulating within Associate cricket circles. The Federazione Cricket Italiana (Italian Cricket Federation) officially announced the decision in a press release on Thursday.
According to the Federation, although initial discussions regarding Burns' availability took place, a complete agreement was never finalized, and a formal contract was not signed. The Italian Cricket Federation also stated that internal evaluations led to Wayne Madsen's selection as captain. The Federation prioritized team stability, harmony, and continuity over short-term goals when making its decision.
The Federation thanked Burns for his service to Italian cricket, acknowledging his contributions as both a player and captain. Burns represented Italy at tournaments in Rome and Uganda in 2024. He also captained the team during the qualifying campaign in the Netherlands in July 2025, which saw Italy secure their first-ever qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The Federation recognizes his contribution as significant to the Italian national team's ongoing development.
News of Burns' potential absence was initially reported in late November, shortly after Madsen was announced as the new captain. Madsen, who has represented Italy since 2023 due to his grandmother's heritage, missed Italy’s qualification at the European Regional Qualifier because of county cricket commitments. He was previously slated to play for Italy in 2012, but Derbyshire needed him for pre-season training.
While it's unclear whether the change in captaincy influenced Burns' departure, it's not expected to trigger further player exits. Italy is yet to announce their squad for the upcoming bilateral series against Ireland in January. At the T20 World Cup, Italy is grouped with England, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the West Indies in Group C, and will begin their campaign against Bangladesh on January 9 in Kolkata.
*More information to follow…*
