In a surprising turn of events, former Australia opener Joe Burns has been removed as captain of the Italy national cricket team and will not feature in Italy’s squad for their debut at the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Burns, 36, led Italy through the T20 World Cup qualifying stages, helping secure a historic place in the 20-team tournament starting on 7 February 2026. However, the Italian Cricket Federation (FCRI) announced that Derbyshire batter Wayne Madsen, 41, will now take over as captain, and Burns will not be selected.

Italian Cricket Federation Statement

The FCRI issued a statement regarding the decision:

“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 decision has been taken to ensure stability, harmony, and continuity for the team and is made solely in the interest of the national team’s preparation and serenity ahead of this historic event.”

While the federation thanked Burns for his contributions to Italian cricket, they declined to provide further details on the reasons behind the decision.

Burns’ Contribution to Italian Cricket

Joe Burns, who played 23 Tests and six One-Day Internationals for Australia between 2014 and 2020, qualifies to represent Italy through his mother’s heritage. In May 2024, Burns announced he would play for Italy as a tribute to his late brother.

Since making his debut for Italy in June 2024, Burns played eight T20 matches for the Azzurri, including an unbeaten century in the Europe Qualifier Group A final against Romania. He also helped Italy secure two victories over Guernsey in the Europe Regional Final group, finishing second behind the Netherlands to earn Italy’s first-ever T20 World Cup spot.

Wayne Madsen Replaces Burns

South Africa-born Wayne Madsen previously played for Derbyshire starting in 2009 and has Italian heritage through his grandmother. Madsen played four T20 matches for Italy during the unsuccessful 2024 T20 World Cup qualifiers, but had not featured in Italy’s 2026 qualifying campaign. He now assumes the captaincy ahead of Italy’s World Cup debut.

Behind the Scenes: A Strained Relationship

While Burns’ omission may surprise some, sources indicate that relations between Burns and the FCRI had been strained for some time. Observers point to a remark Burns made during the post-match presentation in The Hague after Italy’s qualification in July, which hinted at uncertainty over his future involvement.

The main point of contention reportedly arose over a contract for the T20 World Cup. Burns asserts he accepted the deal and has supporting evidence, while the federation disputes this claim. The disagreement has led to a rift that is widely regarded as unlikely to be reconciled before the tournament.

Analysis

What should have been one of Italian cricket’s most heartwarming stories—the debut of a former Australian international leading Italy to a World Cup—has instead been overshadowed by internal disputes. Despite Burns being among the top 15 players available for Italy, the federation opted to prioritize team harmony and contractual clarity over his experience and on-field performance.

This development serves as a reminder of the complexities involved when international cricket eligibility and player contracts intersect with national federations’ strategic priorities.