3 min learnFeb 12, 2026 02:07 PM IST
In all probability the very first thing that involves a layman’s thoughts, from a culinary standpoint, when one thinks of Italy, is a pizza. The mouthwatering preparation has acquired lovers world wide, with the dish usually being tailored to native tastes and preferences.
So, it’s no shock that the group representing that nation and making its debut on the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup will embrace a practitioner of probably the most Italian of trades – a pizza maker – even when was not born there.
When Crishan Kalugamage moved together with his dad and mom from Sri Lanka to Italy as a young person virtually twenty years in the past, he had assumed that his ardour for cricket would stay unfulfilled. However the sport has its practitioners within the nation and he quickly grew to become a member of the Roma Cricket Membership, one of many oldest in Italy, regardless that his occupation and livelihood usually clashed together with his love for the sport.
“I misplaced numerous jobs. Sunday is a really busy day, plenty of bosses aren’t eager on you not working since you are enjoying cricket,” Kalugamage instructed BBC Sport.
He works at a pizzeria in Lucca within the Tuscany area of Italy, and practices his cricket round his work commitments. He’s a leg-spinner and has been enjoying for Italy since 2022. He believes there’s some similarity between his skilled and sporting trades. “It’s all concerning the fingertips,” he says cheekily.
Not less than, he’s studying from probably the greatest. Italy head coach, John Davison – also referred to as ‘The Spin Whisperer’ has been educating the craft for many years now. Australian legend Nathan Lyon, who labored with him since he was a young person, known as Davison the “finest spin coach on the earth”.
Earlier than his household moved to Europe, Kalugamage – who hails from Negombo – was a part of his faculty’s U-13 and U-15 sides. Throughout that interval, his cricketing idols have been Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya. As he grew as a leggie, he added Shane Warne, Wanindu Hasaranga and Rashid Khan to that listing.
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“Now, my primary job is within the restaurant. After the World Cup, we’ll see if I’ve an opportunity to play someplace. Hopefully, sooner or later, it’s solely cricket,” he instructed ESPNCricinfo.
Soccer dominates sporting conversations in Italy, and Kalugamage has became a passionate Inter Milan supporter, with Argentine ahead Lautaro Martinez his favorite participant.
He went wicketless in Italy’s opening World Cup sport towards Scotland, however plans to show the centre-forward’s trademark cross-armed celebration if he will get a scalp on the large stage.