T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier 2025: 'Very surreal' - Captain Joe Burns lauds teammates as Italy stands on cusp of T20 World Cup 2026 qualification

Italy captain Joe Burns is hoping that his team's upset victory over Scotland at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Regional Final, which has them on the cusp of qualifying for next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, is just the beginning of something special for the Azurri.

Burns, who has played 23 Test matches for Australia, was appointed captain of Italy in December 2024. He expressed his delight after his team reached an enviable position in the qualifying tournament.

"I am really proud of the boys for this moment. To come and beat Scotland, who are a fantastic team, is a nice reward for sacrifices our players, staff and federation have made," Burns told ICC.

"Hopefully, this is the stepping stone for a lot to come. It's a very emotional group at the moment. Being on the verge of a World Cup? It's very surreal," he added.

Italy defended a 168-run target against Scotland at the Sportpark Westvliet in The Hague, Netherlands, on Wednesday, July 9, to remain at the top of the points table. They will now play their final encounter against the Dutch at the same venue on Friday. A win for Italy will help them secure a spot in the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup. A defeat by a small margin could also see them progressing to the marquee event for the first time. However, for this scenario to transpire, neither Jersey or Scotland should win their contest by a big margin. Jersey are set to face Scotland on Friday.

After the ICC decided to expand the T20 World Cup to 20 teams, fans have witnessed some of the lesser-known nations competing on the big stage against top sides. The 2024 edition of the global event marked the first time 20 teams competed for the T20 World Cup. The USA stunned Pakistan and reached the Super-Eight stage of the competition. More such surprises could enthrall the cricket fraternity next year.