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"Planning To Win The World Cup” - Joe Burns Sets Bold Goal After Italy’s Qualification

Jatin

Joe Burns led Italy to qualify for T20 World Cup 2026 [Source: @CricketGlimpseX/x.com]Joe Burns led Italy to qualify for T20 World Cup 2026 [Source: @CricketGlimpseX/x.com]

The Azzurri might be missing in action when the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off but Italy will have representation at a global Mondiale next year. Not on the football pitch, but on the cricket field.

Joe Burns Reflects On Italy’s Historic T20 World Cup Qualification

In a storyline no one saw coming, Italy’s cricket team has qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. It is their first-ever ticket to a major ICC event and they did it in style with a ragtag band of passionate cricketers from all over the world.

Despite losing to the Netherlands in Voorburg by nine wickets on Friday, results earlier in the day, most crucially, Jersey’s upset over Scotland meant Italy had already sealed one of the two spots on offer from the European Qualifiers.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, captain Joe Burns summed it up best:

"It’s still very surreal… It was an emotional moment that we’re going to try and reflect on as a group as much as we can over the next few months."

Italy’s golden result came against Scotland with a gritty 12-run win on Wednesday that changed the whole campaign. The performances may have come from cricketers scattered across Australia and England but their Italian roots tied them together like nonna’s spaghetti.

Joe Burns, once the proud owner of a Baggy Green with 4 Test centuries for Australia, has found new purpose in blue. His Calabrian heritage, family history and desire to honour his late brother Dominic (through his No. 85 shirt) brought him to this moment.

"When you play for Australia, there’s such a history to the baggy green… When you’re playing for Italy, it’s very much a blank canvas, trying to shape the future."

He first contacted Cricket Italia in 2009 but strict eligibility rules and a three-year cooling-off period after his final Aussie appearance in 2020 delayed the dream. However, coming to the present and he has led Italy to the promised land.

No Fancy Turf? No Problem

Italy has no turf pitches, and not a lot of resources. But what they lack in infrastructure, they make up for in belief.

"We don’t have any turf facilities, and very little facilities in general, but this gives us an opportunity to develop the game."

Their prep included a training camp in Rome. Burns made sure every player was locked in.

"I told the guys that I don’t care if we’re playing Luxembourg in the sub-regional qualifiers or India in a T20 World Cup final… I want our team to be the most prepared team in world cricket for every game that we play. People ask me what the goal for the World Cup is and I say, 'Look, we're planning and preparing to win every game - so we're planning to win the World Cup"

Joe Burns Eyes Australia Clash After Italy’s World Cup Entry

Burns isn’t sure if he’ll continue playing. He said it will take a few months to decide but if he does stick around, there is one dream fixture on his mind.

"We’ve said briefly as a group that we want the big stage… If we do play Australia and I’m on the field, it’ll obviously be a very special occasion."

And why not? Six players in Italy’s squad against Netherlands were born in Australia. A showdown with the old home team on a world stage would be the stuff of fairy tales.

For Burns and his teammates, this isn’t just cricket. It’s about representing generations of Italians who spread across the globe post World War 2. It is about showing that the Azzurri shirt can shine beyond the football pitch.

"There are Italians dispersed all over the world, and I hope this team is a beacon for Italians everywhere."

While the football team is searching for answers, Italian cricket team just created history. Joe Burns and his men just qualify for a World Cup, they wrote the first chapter of a story that could inspire a whole new sporting culture in Italy.