Italy’s T10 Powerhouse

Episode 44 of European Cricket Stories takes us to one of the strongest club regions in European cricket. 🎙️ ECN Founder Daniel Weston sits down with Rukhsar Ahmed, Captain of Jinnah Brescia, a multiple European Cricket League qualifier and one of Italy’s most successful clubs. Rukhsar reflects on his first day playing for a club in Italy 16 years ago, a match he still cherishes after scoring more than 50 runs. Before moving to Italy, he played extensive tape ball and street cricket in Pakistan, later transitioning into red and white ball cricket before continuing his journey abroad. Cricket in Italy was already on the rise when he arrived, but the growth over the past five years has been exponential. The Milan and Brescia region is widely regarded as the hub of Italian cricket, with a high concentration of competitive clubs and talented players. Jinnah Brescia’s record speaks for itself. The club has won five out of the six ECS events in Italy that they have participated in, an impressive achievement given the strength of the domestic club scene. Rukhsar explains why the T10 format suits modern players, with its fast pace fitting more easily into busy schedules. At the same time, he highlights how unforgiving the format can be, where even small mistakes are quickly punished and players must remain fully focused throughout. With Italy set to play in the 2026 T20 World Cup for the first time, there is real excitement around the future of the game in the country. If current momentum continues, Italian cricket looks set to grow even stronger in the years ahead. New episodes of European Cricket Stories are released every Tuesday and Thursday, showcasing the people and performances shaping European cricket. 👉 Subscribe now and follow the European cricket journey.