Former Proteas and current Italy all-rounder Jon-Jon Smuts has become the latest player to represent two countries in T20I cricket.
Smuts played six ODIs and 13 T20Is for South Africa from 2017 to 2021.
In January 2026, he played three T20Is for Italy – and will add to that tally at this month’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
“My wife, Judy, started looking into her Italian heritage,” Smuts told the Sunday Times.
“Her great grandfather came to South Africa from Italy but never lost his citizenship. That entitled her to an Italian passport, and then I applied through marriage.
“I’m learning that Italian bond. It’s a team that comes from very diverse cultural backgrounds. Coming from SA, I’m used to it. It’s quite exciting because there’s a lot of different things bringing us together and making us unique.
“It gives us a lot of strength as a team because we are all coming together for one cause, which is really cool.”
Smuts, who is among the leading run-scorers in SA20 history and contracted by the Dolphins in division one of South African domestic cricket, was in contention for Italy selection three years ago.
“The timing wasn’t right at that stage. It was the first season of the SA20 and I was commuting between Port Elizabeth and Durban. It was a lot to ask of the family,” he added.
“When Italy qualified for the T20 World Cup, they reached out again. With my workload reduced because I’m no longer playing first-class cricket, the chance to play in a World Cup was too enticing.
“I went in with a very open mind and I was blown away. I thought it might be very amateurish, but there are some local Italian players who really impressed me.”
Italy have previously capped dual internationals, including former England seamer Jade Dernbach and former Australian batsman Joe Burns.
Last year, former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor debuted for Samoa in T20I cricket.
New Zealand and Australia’s Luke Ronchi, Netherlands and Australia’s Dirk Nannes, South Africa and United States of America’s Rusty Theron, Ireland and England’s Eoin Morgan – and New Zealand and United States of America’s Corey Anderson – are among several other players capped by two countries in T20I cricket.
Meanwhile, former South African franchise cricketers Shadley van Schalkwyk and Andries Gous have been named in the United States of America’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup.