Joe Burns stripped of Italy captaincy and will be left out of T20 World Cup squad

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.