Italy Cricket Rocked by Sexual Harassment Allegations After Historic T20 World Cup 2026 Debut
Italy had their greatest ever cricket moment just days ago. Now they are making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Days after the Italian men’s team completed a historic first-ever participation at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Italian cricket has been shaken by serious sexual harassment allegations that have led to a suspension, board resignations, and a federal investigation.
| Key Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Allegation Against | Prabath Ekneligoda — Women’s Cricket Co-ordinator |
| Alleged By | A player from the Italian women’s team |
| Board Action | Immediate precautionary suspension from all duties |
| Investigation | Underway by FCRI Federal Prosecutor’s Office |
| Board Status | President ousted, 6 board members resigned |
What Are the Allegations
A player from the Italian women’s team has made sexual harassment allegations against Prabath Ekneligoda, who served as the women’s cricket co-ordinator for the Federazione Cricket Italiana — the Italian cricket board, known as FCRI.
The FCRI confirmed the allegations are currently under investigation by the federal prosecutor. The board also confirmed that Ekneligoda was suspended immediately — a precautionary step taken, in their words, to protect the athletes involved and preserve the integrity of the sporting environment.
Ekneligoda’s lawyer, however, denied the allegations entirely and claimed there were ulterior motives behind them. ESPNcricinfo approached Ekneligoda directly for comment.
The Twist — He Was at the T20 World Cup
Here is where things get complicated. Despite being suspended from all federal duties and activities, Ekneligoda was present at the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
The FCRI’s media manager Rakbir Hasan confirmed this to ESPNcricinfo, but clarified that Ekneligoda travelled as a companion of the board President Maria Lorena Haz Paz — not in any official capacity or as part of the World Cup delegation.
That explanation will raise eyebrows. A suspended official travelling to the World Cup alongside the board President — even in a personal capacity — is the kind of detail that makes a difficult situation look considerably worse.
Board in Chaos — President Ousted, Six Resignations
The harassment allegations are not the only crisis facing Italian cricket right now. Since the end of Italy’s T20 World Cup campaign, the board has effectively fallen apart.
- President Maria Lorena Haz Paz has been ousted from her position
- Six board members have resigned
- The Federal Council has been dissolved as a result
CEO Luca Bruno Malaspina confirmed all of this to ESPNcricinfo — but was clear that the board departures are not directly linked to the harassment allegations. They are separate issues happening at the same time, which makes the overall picture for Italian cricket deeply troubling.
Check the latest T20 World Cup 2026 news and updates as this story continues to develop alongside the on-field action.
Italy’s Historic T20 World Cup Campaign
It is important not to let this scandal completely overshadow what Italy achieved on the field — because their debut at the T20 World Cup was genuinely remarkable.
The Italian men’s team made a serious impression:
- Beat Nepal by 10 wickets — one of the most dominant results of the entire group stage
- Lost to England by only 24 runs — a performance that earned widespread respect
- Exited before the Super Eights but left with their reputation significantly enhanced
For a nation that was not even on the global cricket radar two years ago, reaching the T20 World Cup and performing the way they did was a massive achievement. The players deserve enormous credit — and they should not have this moment tarnished by what is happening off the field.
See the full T20 World Cup 2026 groups and results to see exactly how Italy performed across their group stage matches.
What the FCRI Said
The board released a formal statement covering several key points worth noting.
The suspension was ordered by the President in 2025 — meaning this was not a rushed reaction to public pressure. It was a decision made internally, before the World Cup, and the board says it was done to protect the athletes involved and ensure due process.
The FCRI confirmed full cooperation with relevant authorities and reserved the right to take further action depending on how the investigation unfolds. The presumption of innocence was also mentioned specifically — signalling the board wants a proper legal and sporting process, not a trial by media.
What Happens Next
The federal prosecutor’s investigation is ongoing. With the board President gone and six members resigned, Italian cricket now faces a governance crisis on top of a welfare crisis.
The immediate priority must be the welfare of the player who made the allegations. Whatever the investigation concludes, the fact that a woman felt unsafe enough to come forward is something Italian cricket needs to take extremely seriously — especially as the sport grows rapidly in the country.
Follow the T20 World Cup 2026 teams section to stay across all participating nations and developments from the tournament.
The Bottom Line
Italy cricket had the most celebrated week in its history — and now faces one of its darkest moments. The on-field achievement was real and deserves to be celebrated. But the allegations against a suspended official, his presence at the World Cup despite that suspension, and the collapse of the board’s leadership structure all point to serious governance failures that need to be addressed urgently and transparently.
FAQs
Q. What are the sexual harassment allegations in Italian cricket? A player from the Italian women’s team has made sexual harassment allegations against Prabath Ekneligoda, the women’s cricket co-ordinator of the FCRI.
Q. Who is Prabath Ekneligoda? He is the women’s cricket co-ordinator for the Federazione Cricket Italiana who has been suspended pending a federal investigation into the allegations.
Q. Was the suspended official present at T20 World Cup 2026? Yes — despite his suspension, Ekneligoda travelled to the World Cup as a personal companion of the FCRI President, not in any official capacity.
Q. What happened to the Italian cricket board after these allegations? The FCRI President has been ousted, six board members have resigned, and the Federal Council has been dissolved — though these departures are said to be unrelated to the allegations.
Q. How did Italy perform at the T20 World Cup 2026? Italy made their historic debut, beating Nepal by 10 wickets and losing to England by just 24 runs before exiting in the group stage.
Q. What is the current status of the investigation? The allegations are under investigation by the FCRI Federal Prosecutor’s Office, with the board confirming full cooperation with relevant authorities.
