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New Delhi: Italian’s men’s cricket team has come close to one step more to create history. In the match played in The Hague on Wednesday 9 July, Italy defeated Scotland by 12 runs and made a big jump towards qualifying for the ICC Men T20 World Cup 2026. The World Cup will be played early next year under the joint hosting of India and Sri Lanka.

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifiers have scored five points in three matches so far with two winning and one benanty match in three matches, which holds it at the top of the points table. If the team headed by Burns defeats hosts Netherlands in Sportpark Westwliet on Friday 11 July, it will qualify for the first time for the T20 World Cup by creating history.

Italy’s team can qualify like this

Even if Italy has to face defeat against the Netherlands, it will still have the possibility of qualifying. The condition is that his net run rate is better than Scotland and Jersey and he remains at the top in the points table. Currently Scotland and Jersey have 3-3 points and will clash with each other on Friday. The winner of that match may have 5 points equal to Italy, but Italy’s better net run rate can give him an edge.

What did Burns say after the victory?

Italian captain Joe Burns said after the victory that all this looks very unrealistic. Defeating a brilliant team like Scotland is the result of the sacrifice made by our players, support staff and the entire federation. I am proud of my team. He could not celebrate technically while talking to BBC, as there is still a big match on Friday. Joe Burns has played 23 Test matches for Australia from 2014 to 2020.

Teams like America, Canada, Uganda, Papua New Guinea and Nepal participated for the first time in T20 World Cup 2024. The US surprised everyone by defeating a legendary team like Pakistan. Now Italy is also very close to leaving its mark on the world stage. If Italy wins on Friday or qualifies on the strength of a better net run rate, it will be a historic moment for European cricket.