Italy wins toss and fields in debut T20 World Cup game against Scotland

KOLKATA, India — After 45 years of waiting, Italy’s men’s national team stepped onto the global stage Monday, winning the toss and choosing to field in their inaugural Twenty20 World Cup fixture against Scotland at Eden Gardens. The decision marked the Azzurri’s first appearance in any major International Cricket Council tournament, ending a drought that stretches back to the nation’s maiden ICC membership in 1978. Under floodlights and in front of a vibrant crowd, captain Alessandro Bonora called correctly at the coin flip, immediately inserting Scotland to set the early tempo in Group B’s opening encounter. The historic moment, broadcast live across Europe, signals Italy’s arrival among cricket’s expanding fraternity and sets the tone for a tournament already rich with emerging-nation storylines.