Italian cricketers train with Kolkata children:Italy to make T20 World Cup debut against Scotland at Eden Gardens on February 9

Ahead of their historic first T20 World Cup match against Scotland, members of the Italian cricket team took part in a unique practice session with children at Eden Gardens on Sunday. Italian team trains with children A total of 32 girls and boys from Kolkata schools joined the Italian players on the field, where they bowled, batted, and received cricketing tips from international cricketers. The players also interacted warmly with the children, shaking hands, signing autographs on T-shirts, and cheering them on throughout the session. The Italian squad arrived in Kolkata on Saturday afternoon and headed straight to Eden Gardens for the special interaction before beginning their net practice. Under the supervision of coach Mohsin Sheikh, Italian batters and bowlers practiced alongside the children, motivating the young aspirants and sharing insights from their professional experience. Players arrive before net session The session was part of the ICC–UNICEF ‘Cricket 4 Good’ initiative. Appreciating the Italian team’s participation, UNICEF West Bengal Chief Dr Monjur Hossain highlighted the importance of the Right to Play and the need to create safe spaces for children to learn and grow through sports. UNICEF highlights right to play “You have to have a place to play safely with confidence, joy and happiness. Along with the ICC, UNICEF is promoting children’s right to play through such cricket clinics,” he said. Italian wicketkeeper-batter Gian-Piero Meade expressed his excitement about the interaction. “We coached the kids, shared experiences, and had a lot of fun. Seeing the smiles on their faces was truly special,” he said, adding that some of the youngsters showed strong technical skills, including promising fast bowlers. Italian players praise young talent During the session, students, many of them fans of Italian captain Wayne Madsen, asked the players about handling crowd support. The cricketers said they stay focused on the game and give their best in such moments. Calling the experience “a dream come true,” budding all-rounder Hiramon Bairagi said the tips he received would help him in future matches. “The interaction was extremely motivating,” he added. Children call interaction dream come 14-year-old Anushka Sarkar said the Italian players encouraged them to enjoy the game and focus on fitness. “They told us to enjoy cricket now and think about the future later,” she said. Coach Mohsin Sheikh praised the young participants, particularly the girls. “It is encouraging to see so many youngsters, especially girls, playing cricket. This clinic gave them a rare opportunity to bat and bowl with international players,” he said.