Joe Burns will not play for Italy in the 2026 T20 World Cup after being stripped of the captaincy.
Joe Burns has been stripped of the Italy captaincy and left out of their plans for their debut appearance at the T20 World Cup next year.
Former Australia opener Burns, 36, led Italy through qualifying to secure a spot at the 20-team tournament in India and Sri Lanka, which starts on 7 February.
However, the Italian Cricket Federation (FCRI) has announced Derbyshire batter Wayne Madsen, 41, has now replaced Burns.
The FCRI added Burns will not be selected as part of Italy's squad for the 2026 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," a FCRI statement read.
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The FCRI did not provide specific details as to why Burns had been stripped of the captaincy and will not be selected for the T20 World Cup.
However, it did state the decision had been taken to "ensure stability, harmony and continuity for the team" and was made "solely in the interest of the national team's preparation and serenity ahead of this historic event".
The statement added the FCRI "will not comment further on individual matters" though the organisation did also express its "sincere thanks" to Burns for his role in "an important chapter" in Italian cricket.
Burns, who played 23 Tests and six one-day internationals for Australia between 2014 and 2020, is eligible to represent Italy through his mother's heritage.
He announced he would represent Italy as a tribute to his late brother in May 2024.
Burns played eight T20s for Italy, scoring an unbeaten century in the Europe Qualifier Group A final against Romania.
Italy then picked up two wins over Guernsey in the Europe Regional Final group, which proved enough to secure second place behind the Netherlands and a World Cup spot.
South Africa-born Madsen first played for Derbyshire in 2009 under an Italian passport, courtesy of his Italian grandmother.
He played four T20s for Italy in their unsuccessful bid to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup but was not part of the team for the 2026 qualifying.
Category: General Sports
