Greece Set Sights on 2028 T20 World Cup
It is not every day that a minnow nation with serious cricketing ambitions makes headlines, but Greece are doing exactly that. The Hellenic Cricket Federation has assembled a squad with a distinctly Australian flavour as they prepare to compete in a European sub-regional qualifying event in Finland between 14 and 21 August. Their target? A place at the 2028 men's T20 World Cup — and if you'd offered those odds twelve months ago, most bookmakers would have been happy to take your money.
Central to their plans is Billy Konstas, the 24-year-old elder brother of Australia's breakout Test batter Sam Konstas. Billy has been included in Greece's initial 14-man squad for the tournament, bringing with him a background in Sydney grade cricket alongside a career that blends cricket coaching with physiotherapy. He may not share quite the same spotlight as his younger sibling, but in Greek cricketing circles, the Konstas name carries considerable weight right now.
A Squad Steeped in Australian Talent
Billy Konstas is far from the only Australian with Greek roots being courted by the federation. Leg-spinning all-rounder Blake Faunce, aged 21, has also been named in the squad. Faunce represented Australian Capital Territory at representative age-group level, and his ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a genuinely useful T20 cricketer at this level.
Perhaps the most eye-catching names in discussions with the Hellenic Cricket Federation are Blake Nikitaras and Peter Hatzoglou. Nikitaras, 26, has played first-class cricket for New South Wales and appeared in the Big Bash for Sydney Thunder — and his connection to Greek cricket runs deep, given that his father Steve played for the national side at either end of his own professional career. Hatzoglou, meanwhile, would represent a real coup. At 27, he brings substantial franchise pedigree across The Hundred, the Big Bash and the Pakistan Super League. Whether either player will be available for the 10-team European sub-regional qualifier C remains uncertain, but their potential involvement has raised expectations considerably. In betting terms, their inclusion would almost certainly shorten Greece's odds of progressing through qualifying.
Following Italy's Blueprint
Greece's strategy of drawing from their sizeable diaspora — more than 400,000 Australians claim Greek ancestry — will inevitably invite comparisons with Italy's recent success. The Azzurri made their maiden T20 World Cup appearance earlier this year, having navigated sub-regional qualifying with a squad that featured no Italy-born players whatsoever. Five Australian-Italians were included, among them two sets of brothers in the Manentis and Moscas. That Italy blueprint is clearly front of mind for the Greeks as they look to build a competitive squad from a global pool of eligible talent.
Greece have been ICC members since 1995 but have not played sufficient recent fixtures to hold a T20 ranking. Closing that gap starts in Finland this August.
A Fascinating Summer Ahead
As a former coach, I find this story genuinely compelling. The pathway being carved out by associate nations through diaspora recruitment is reshaping the landscape of global cricket, and Greece's ambitions are entirely credible given the quality of players being discussed. Whether or not Hatzoglou and Nikitaras come on board, the Konstas name alone guarantees that this Greek side will attract attention well beyond Helsinki. Keep an eye on those World Cup qualifying markets — this could be a tournament worth following closely.
