Italy will step into uncharted territory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a new leader at the helm — and without Joe Burns, the captain who guided them to qualification. In a decision that has sparked discussion across the cricketing world, the Italian Cricket Federation has confirmed that Burns will not be part of the squad for Italy’s maiden T20 World Cup campaign.
The announcement marks a dramatic shift just months before the global event, raising questions about leadership transitions, player availability, and long-term planning as Italy prepare for their biggest moment on the international stage.
Joe Burns Left Out Despite Leading Italy to Qualification
Joe Burns, a former Australia international, played a central role in Italy’s rise on the global cricket map. He represented Italy in tournaments held in Rome and Uganda in 2024 and went on to captain the side during the crucial qualifiers in the Netherlands in July 2025.
Under Burns’ leadership, Italy achieved a historic milestone by securing qualification for their first-ever ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. His presence was widely seen as instrumental in navigating high-pressure qualification matches and shaping the team’s competitive identity.
Yet, despite those achievements, Burns will not feature in the World Cup squad.
Why Joe Burns Is Not in Italy’s T20 World Cup Squad
The Italian Cricket Federation clarified that Joe Burns’ exclusion was not performance-related. Instead, the decision stemmed from unresolved availability discussions.
In an official statement, the board said:
“The Federation can confirm that Joe Burns will not be selected as part of Italy’s squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Although preliminary exchanges of availability took place in recent weeks, a full agreement was never reached and, consequently, a formal contract was not signed.”
The statement underlined that while conversations did occur, they did not progress to a binding agreement, ultimately leading to Burns missing out on the tournament he helped Italy reach.
Wayne Madsen Named Captain as Italy Choose Stability
With Joe Burns unavailable, Italy have opted for continuity by appointing Wayne Madsen as the new captain for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Madsen, already part of the leadership group, was chosen to ensure balance and cohesion as the team enters its first global ICC tournament.
Explaining the decision, the federation stated:
“Madsen brings significant international and domestic experience to the position. The decision responds to the need to ensure stability, harmony and continuity for the team — priorities over short-term objectives.”
The emphasis on long-term structure rather than short-term gains reflects Italy’s approach as they navigate elite international cricket for the first time.
Italian Board Acknowledges Joe Burns’ Contribution
While the decision to move on was firm, the Italian Cricket Federation was careful to publicly acknowledge Joe Burns’ impact on Italian cricket.
In its statement, the board added:
“The Federation wishes to place on record its sincere thanks to Joe Burns for his service to Italian cricket, both as a player and as captain.”
Beyond T20 cricket, Burns also featured for Italy in the 50-over Challenge League, part of the qualification pathway toward the 2027 ODI World Cup. His involvement across formats highlighted his broader role in strengthening Italy’s national setup during a transformative phase.
Italy’s Tough T20 World Cup Group Awaits
Italy’s debut T20 World Cup campaign will be anything but easy. They will begin their journey against Bangladesh in Kolkata on February 9, before facing a demanding Group C lineup that includes England, West Indies, and Nepal.
With high-profile opponents and global attention, Italy’s squad — now under Wayne Madsen — will look to make an impression despite the absence of Joe Burns, one of the architects of their qualification success.
Joe Burns’ Absence Looms Over Italy’s Historic Moment
As Italy prepare to walk onto the world stage for the first time at an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the story of Joe Burns remains inseparable from their journey. From captaining the side through decisive qualifiers to featuring across key tournaments, Burns’ role in Italy’s rise is firmly etched into their cricketing history.
However, unresolved availability talks and the absence of a signed agreement have brought that chapter to a close — at least for this World Cup.
Italy now move forward with a new leader, a new direction, and the challenge of honoring the foundation laid by Joe Burns while carving their own identity on cricket’s biggest stage.