Italy captain Wayne Madsen suffered a major setback after dislocating his left shoulder during his team’s debut match at the T20 World Cup.
The 42-year-old was injured in the fourth over while attempting a diving stop against Scotland in Kolkata and was forced to leave the field immediately.
Scotland went on to post a strong total of 207-4 from their 20 overs, putting Italy under pressure in their opening game.
Injury mars historic moment
Madsen’s journey to leading Italy at their first-ever World Cup has been one of the standout stories of the tournament build-up.
A former Derbyshire stalwart and ex-South Africa hockey international, he qualified to play for Italy through his grandmother.
His injury came as a big blow, especially on such a historic occasion for the team.
He will be assessed again in the next 24 hours before a final decision is taken on his availability for the rest of the tournament.
Key matches ahead for Italy
Italy now face a challenging schedule in the group stage.
They will play Nepal in Mumbai on Thursday, followed by a high-profile clash against England in Kolkata on 16 February.
Their final group match is against West Indies on 19 February, also in Kolkata.
Madsen’s fitness could play a crucial role in shaping Italy’s campaign in the remainder of the competition.
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