New Delhi, Feb 8 (NationPress) When Herbert Kilpin established the Milan Football and Cricket Club in 1899, he could hardly have envisioned that 127 years later, an Italian cricket squad would compete in a World Cup. Under the bright Monday sun at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Italy is set to make its debut in the Men's T20 World Cup against Scotland, a match that will be streamed to millions worldwide.

While AC Milan has emerged as a football powerhouse, cricket has dimmed on Italy’s athletic horizon. On Monday, the Azzurri will step into their World Cup debut, marking an extraordinary milestone in their cricketing saga. Ranked 27th in the men’s T20I standings, Italy's squad is made up of players with roots outside the country, yet united by their Italian heritage and a steadfast determination to reshape the cricketing story in a football-centric nation.

“That diversity can be a boon—you're bringing in players from various cricketing backgrounds and cultures who have all embraced this Italian identity, whether they’ve lived here for up to 15 or 17 years like some home-grown players or have Italian lineage,” stated Kevin O’Brien, Italy’s assistant coach, in an exclusive chat with IANS ahead of their Group C campaign.

“Everyone has truly embraced their Italian heritage, and the players and staff are deeply committed to advancing Italian cricket through the sport. A cricket World Cup in India is arguably the premier event in the sport.”

“We’re thrilled to have qualified, and we hope to perform admirably, securing victories that will encourage people to take Italian cricket more seriously,” O’Brien added.

The journey for Italy, boasting 4,000 registered players across roughly 80 clubs within a two-tier league system, has been challenging. They came heartbreakingly close to qualifying for the 2024 edition but finally clinched a spot in this major tournament in the Europe qualifiers last July with a stunning 12-run triumph over Scotland.

Recent warm-up wins against Canada (by 10 runs) and UAE (by 112 runs) in humid Chennai have boosted their confidence. The Azzurri, who arrived in India on February 1, also defeated Ireland in a pre-tournament match in Dubai, successfully chasing down 157 runs to achieve their first-ever victory over a full ICC member.

To acclimatize to the sub-continent's conditions, Italy held a training camp in Dubai in November for around nine days, where they played four practice matches against local teams. The World Cup squad returned to Dubai on January 16 for another training and preparation camp before facing Ireland and Namibia.

O’Brien’s involvement with the Italian team is based on their touring schedule rather than a full-time position. “It’s not full-time. My role revolves around tours. I do make an effort to visit Italy a couple of times each year, particularly in the winter, to work with our home-based players,” he explained.

“This usually involves conducting high-performance camps and training sessions with local players during winter weekends. However, my main focus is accompanying the team on tours.”

“I’ve been with Italy for three and a half years now and have found it immensely rewarding. We hope this World Cup marks the beginning of something significant and memorable for Italian cricket,” he added.

Italy's coaching team also includes seasoned coaches with World Cup experience—John Davidson and Dougie Brown. “Having one coach with World Cup experience is beneficial, but three is even better. Our coaching staff has firsthand knowledge of associate cricket as players,” he noted.

“We’ve experienced both qualifying for World Cups and competing at them. Sharing this knowledge with our current players has been great, and they are receptive to our guidance.”

Many players on the Italian side train and compete abroad—captain Wayne Madsen plays for Derbyshire, while Harry and Ben Manenti have experience in Australia’s Big Bash League, with Ben participating in South Australia’s Sheffield Shield victory, alongside Justin and Anthony Mosca.

Grant Stewart, an Australian-born fast bowler, represents Kent in English domestic cricket, while Jon Jon Smuts, a former South African player, adds further expertise. Players like Crishan Kalugamage and Jaspreet Singh manage day jobs, working as a pizza maker and Uber driver respectively.

“We’re fortunate to have several fully professional players based in England, Australia, or South Africa. They bring vast playing experience and expertise in handling pressure while performing in front of large audiences,” O’Brien remarked.

“For our local players juggling full-time jobs, this is a remarkable opportunity to view cricket from a fresh perspective. They’ve likely watched numerous matches on TV, seen massive crowds at World Cups and franchise tournaments, and now they will be in the spotlight.”

“This is not a cause for anxiety but rather an excellent chance for players to demonstrate their skills and show that Italian cricket has a promising future,” O’Brien emphasized, particularly with the inclusion of a sports psychologist to support the team.

Italy faces a challenging Group C, which includes Scotland, Nepal, as well as two-time champions England and the West Indies. Although it may appear mismatched, O’Brien embraces Italy’s underdog status.

“Given our current form, experience, and leadership under Wayne, we hold high expectations. We have no reason to fear any team in our group,” he said confidently.

“We understand they are skilled teams with prior World Cup experience, but that also works in our favor. We have nothing to lose in these four matches. Many were unaware that Italy had a cricket team until recently.”

“This can be turned to our advantage. We have everything to gain if we remain composed and make sound decisions. A few victories could advance Italian cricket significantly,” O’Brien concluded.

The heartbreak of missing out on the 2024 edition prompted a shift toward enhanced physical fitness, according to O’Brien. “Significant effort has gone into the physical conditioning of the players. A strong emphasis has been placed on fitness to become stronger, quicker, more agile, and flexible. The players have fully committed to elevating their fitness levels to those of professional teams.”

“While we may not have a fully professional squad, nor the facilities in Rome or Bologna that some desire, players can control their fitness and strength levels, which can be easily managed in the gym. The players have embraced this focus.”

“This represents a key difference from the squad in the 2023 qualifiers. With improved fitness levels, players execute their skills better, particularly under pressure, a fact we showcased in the qualifiers months ago,” he reiterated.

O’Brien, a former cricketing legend from Ireland, made history by scoring the fastest ODI World Cup century—achieved in just 50 balls—during one of cricket’s most significant upsets against England in Bengaluru in 2011. His unique perspective allows him to make valuable comparisons between Italy's and Ireland's cricketing pathways.

“This is a crucial and thrilling time for Italian cricket. Reflecting on the 2007 World Cup with Ireland, Italy finds itself in a comparable situation. While Ireland had stronger grassroots cricket and facilities, the talent and potential on the field for both teams are quite similar.”

“We’ve observed Ireland’s progress over the last 17-18 years. I’m not suggesting Italy will be a Test-playing nation in 18 years, but with the strides we’re making in T20 and 50-over formats, we’re currently second in our group, close to promotion to World Cricket League 2.”

“This indicates a bright future, leading to more matches and increased funding from the ICC, which can be reinvested into grassroots cricket and enhance local facilities, aiming for a center where home-based players can train on grass for a more high-performance squad,” concluded O’Brien.