Italy's Cricket Miracle: Pizza-Makers and Teachers Head to T20 World Cup

In a small, cluttered basement office in Rome, Riccardo Maggio unpacks boxes of blue jerseys emblazoned with "Italia". The landline rings incessantly as he multitasks in the improvised headquarters of the Italian Cricket Federation, tucked away in the building housing the Italian Olympic Committee. This humble base is the unlikely nucleus of a global sporting moment: for the first time in history, Italy's men's national cricket team has qualified for the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, which begins this weekend.

A Story of Passion and Perseverance

"I would call it an Italian miracle," says Maggio, the federation's operations manager and a former national player. Born in Italy to Italian-British parents, Maggio discovered cricket during summers with his grandparents in England. "I watched it on television, then played in the park with friends," he recalls. "Back in Italy, I played football and basketball—the normal sports here. But I loved cricket."

The federation was founded in 1980, but Maggio only learned of Italy's cricket team in 1989, during another trip to England, when he read a Guardian article about the squad touring for club-level games. Upon returning, he called the Italian Olympic Committee to inquire about playing. "They laughed at me," he says. Undeterred, he turned to the British embassy in Rome, which connected him with a local club, sparking his journey in Italian cricket.

A Motley Crew of Cricketers

Maggio's story mirrors those of the players now embarking on Italy's inaugural cricket World Cup. The team is a diverse mix:

Immigrants who moved to Italy as children, such as Crishan Jorge Kalugamage from Sri Lanka.
Players with Italian roots from Australia, South Africa, and Britain.
Professionals like pizza-makers and school teachers, united by a passion for cricket.

Kalugamage, a 34-year-old batter and bowler, moved to Lucca, Tuscany, at age 16. "For the first few years, I did athletics," he says from Dubai, where the team played warm-up matches. "Then a team was created in Lucca, and I had the chance to play cricket again." He now juggles his job as a pizza-maker with training, traveling to Rome every weekend for club matches.

Building Camaraderie and Facing Challenges

The team has forged a strong bond, with players packing Italian Moka pots to ensure good coffee during the tournament. Kalugamage struggles to describe the upcoming experience: "We'll be playing against the strongest teams in the world, with all the pressure and in front of fans—it's my first time like this." To qualify, Italy's crew passed through two stages, beating teams like Turkey, Luxembourg, and Guernsey.

Peter Di Venuto, the team's World Cup manager and a former player, attributes their success to closeness. "We've bonded over a story of family," he says. "Players live in Italy or have Italian heritage. They've all had unique journeys to cricket, and now we're proud to represent Italy and give back."

Hopes for the Future

Sky Italia holds the rights to broadcast Italy's matches live, and the federation has invited journalists from Italian press and state broadcaster Rai to boost publicity. Yet, Kalugamage notes that few in Lucca are aware of Italy's participation. The federation aims to change this, hoping the World Cup will spark interest in cricket across Italy.

"We hope the World Cup encourages Italians to start playing cricket," Maggio says. "I have a feeling Italians are good at it—they just need to know what cricket is about." As this motley crew takes the global stage, they carry not just bats and balls, but dreams of winning hearts and elevating cricket in their homeland.