Greece Pin Hopes on Konstas for T20 World Cup Bid
Greece have called up the brother of Australia batter Sam Konstas to their national cricket team as they prepare to make a surprise bid to qualify for the 2028 men's T20 World Cup. Billy Konstas, four years older than Sam at 24, has been included in Greece's 14-man squad for a European qualifying event in Finland from 14 to 21 August.
The move is part of Greece's efforts to tap into their sizeable Australian diaspora, with over 400,000 people in the country having Greek ancestry. This decision will inevitably draw comparisons with Italy, who participated in their maiden T20 World Cup earlier this year after coming through sub-regional qualifying.
Greece's cricket scene is largely centred around the island of Corfu, where the sport has been played for more than two centuries. Developing homegrown talent with a pathway to the national team is seen as a major priority, with around two-thirds of their squad for the European qualifier in Finland being born in Greece.
The inclusion of Billy Konstas in the squad is a significant move, given his experience playing grade cricket in Sydney alongside his day job, where he combines cricket coaching with physiotherapy. He is joined in the squad by another Greek-Aussie, 21-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder Blake Faunce, who played representative age-group cricket for Australian Capital Territory.
The Hellenic Cricket Federation (HCF) have also held talks with Blake Nikitaras, 26, who has played first-class cricket for New South Wales and in the Big Bash for Sydney Thunder. Nikitaras' father Steve bookended his own professional career with appearances for Greece's national side.
However, it seems unlikely that Nikitaras and another Australian with Greek heritage, Peter Hatzoglou, will be available for selection at this stage. Hatzoglou, 27, would be a coup for Greece given his substantial short-format franchise experience, including stints in The Hundred, Big Bash, and Pakistan Super League.
Greece's attempts to get past the first qualification hurdle for the T20 World Cup will not be straightforward, having been drawn in a group with favourites Germany. They will also face Portugal, who are set to be bolstered by the presence of veteran former Australia all-rounder Moises Henriques, who was born in Madeira.
The making of Billy Konstas will be closely watched, as Greece seek to make a surprise bid for the T20 World Cup. With their European qualifying event just around the corner, Greece will be hoping that Billy Konstas can help them make a statement on the international stage.
Greece's squad for the European qualifying event in Finland includes a mix of homegrown talent and Australian players with Greek heritage. The team is overseen by coach Tim Dellor, who will be looking to guide them through the challenging qualification process.
The road to the T20 World Cup is long and arduous, but Greece are pinning their hopes on Billy Konstas to help them make a surprise bid for qualification. With the European qualifying event just around the corner, Greece will be hoping that Konstas can help them make a statement on the international stage.
Greece's party for the European qualifier in Finland includes a couple of UK-based players in Dimitrios Triandafillithis and Christodoulos Bogdanos, who both play club cricket in Yorkshire. The team will face a tough test in the qualifying event, but with Billy Konstas on board, they will be hoping to make a surprise bid for the T20 World Cup.
Source: Yahoo Sports