Italy Squad
Kamal Kariyawasam
Trentino
Captain
Right hand bat & wicketkeeper. 27 ODI. Having come to Italy in 1981 after being Sri Lanka under-19 wicket-keeper, Kamal is one of the legendary figures of Italian cricket. He is impeccable behind the stumps and loves standing up to the quickies. Outstanding at the 1998 European Championship with 15 victims, no one else having reached 10.		 Valerio Zuppiroli
Pianoro
Vice-captain. Right hand bat & Right arm fast-medium bowler. 24 ODI. The best home-grown player Italy has ever produced. An explosive hitter who loves getting on to the front foot and dictating the tempo of the game.
Alessandro Bonora
Primavera Lazio
Right hand bat & Right arm medium bowler. 0 ODI. Born in Bordighera, near Genova, Alessandro has grown up in South Africa playing for Western Province at under 19 level. An opening bat of immaculate style and a useful change bowler, he could be one of the new names of the tournament.		 Andrea Corbellari
Primavera Lazio
Right hand bat & Right arm fast-medium bowler
5 ODI. An all rounder of true international status who has played first class cricket for Boland. Bowls fast, bats competently and brings a touch of South African standards to the Azzurri's fielding. Hopes to become Italy's second county cricketer after Joe Scuderi.
Peter di Venuto
Tasmania
Left hand bat & Right arm medium bowler. 0 ODI. Older brother of Derbyshire's Michael, Peter is the most recent of the "ius sanguinis" Italians to have joined the ranks. His middle order batting is expected to sustain the required impetus Italy will need to perform creditably.		 Hemantha Jayasena
Pianoro
Left hand bat & LB. 6 ODI. Came to Italy in 1992 on an exchange program with the Sri Lankan Cricket Board and has never left since. A punishing opening bat, extremely severe on anything off line, and an even more devastating leg spinner as demonstrated by his 4-2 versus France in 1998 in Holland.
Benito Giordano
Hyde
Right hand bat & Right arm medium bowler. 20 ODI. Burst dramatically on to the cricketing scene in October 1996 when he scored 53 not out and took 4 for 6 against France. Since then has been the stalwart of the Azzurri's batting line up, coming in at number 3 and adding useful overs of miserly medium pace.		 Samantha Ketipe
Pianoro
Right hand bat & Off break bowler. 0 ODI. Came to Italy in 1992 with Jayasena and, having take a bit more time to settle, is now making his debut for Italy. A sound opening bat and a more than useful off spinner, he should become an integral component of the team for many years to come.
Warren Mazzoncini
Maremma Grosseto
Right hand bat & Left arm medium bowler. 3 ODI. Of South African extraction, an opening bowler who should do well provided he keeps a full length. A brilliant fielder in any position, Warren has improved his batting considerably from tail end slogger to useful late order batsman.		 Andrea Parisi
Pianoro
Right hand bat & Right arm medium bowler. 7 ODI. A real team player capable of opening the innings or not even going out to bat, according on the state of the game. More than justifies his place in the field.
Gabriele Passaretti
Primavera Lazio
Right hand bat & wicketkeeper. 0 ODI. No shortage of Latin flair in this wicketkeeper batsman who on his day can carry the attack to the opponents as no one else in the side. His keeping has progressed constantly but still needs polishing when standing up.		 Akhlaq Qureshi
Bologna
Right hand bat & Right arm fast-medium bowler. 18 ODI. The player who took Italy nearly single handed to Associate status in the mid nineties, now at 38, still a fundamental component of the team with his explosive batting and miserly medium pace bowling.
Ivan Sarnelli
Primavera Lazio
Right hand bat & Right arm medium bowler. Made the headlines in 1997 at 14 years and 11 months when he took 6-16 v Grosseto in a Championship match. Since then he has not lived up to expectations. The tournament offers him a chance to re-enter the limelight.		 Joseph Scuderi
Lancashire CCC
Right hand bat & Right arm fast-medium bowler. Having just missed out on representing Australia in the 1992 World Cup, Joe has transformed the Italian team over the past two years becoming in the meantime Italy's first ever county cricketer with Lancashire.
Doug Ferguson
National Coach
A legendary figure in Italy, Doug is now in his 7th season as National Coach and will be embarking on yet again another campaign hoping that the team, short of performing another Dutch miracle, will perform creditably.		 Riccardo Maggio
Roma
Manager
A veteran of the Ferguson era at only 30, Riccardo was the hero of Italy's surprising win in Buenos Aires when he took 5-40 against Argentina. He is making his debut in this tournament in this new dual role of manager and assistant coach to Doug Ferguson.