Age is just a number, especially in sports, as 42-year-old Wayne Madsen is ready to lead the Italian team in the forthcoming T20 World Cup.
42-year-old Wayne Madsen is set to lead Italy in the forthcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Italy will make its T20 World Cup debut against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on February 9, followed by a clash against Nepal in Mumbai on February 12.
Born in Durban on January 2, 1984, Madsen has represented Italy in four T20 Internationals in 2023. Over his long career, he has played club cricket in England and South Africa, featuring in 253 first-class and 117 List A matches.
Despite Madsen’s experience, the team’s biggest name is 37-year-old all-rounder JJ Smiths, who has played 13 T20 Internationals and six ODIs for the South African national team. Meanwhile, Emilio Ghe will miss the tournament due to injury.
Italy earned its spot in the World Cup thanks to a historic performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier 2025. The team finished second, securing victories over Scotland and Guernsey, and qualified alongside the Netherlands.
Placed in Group C, Italy will face strong competition from England, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Nepal in their World Cup debut. With Madsen at the helm, Italy aims to make a memorable mark on the global stage, proving that age is truly just a number in the world of cricket.
The Italian national cricket team will be led by head coach John Davison, the former Canadian cricketer, with former Ireland batter Kevin O’Brien and ex-Scottish cricketer Douglas Brown serving as assistant coaches, while Australia’s Peter Di Venuto takes charge as team manager.
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