Greece call up Konstas to help 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.

It is understood 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.

Sam made his Test debut for Australia at the age of 19 against India in the Boxing Day Test in 2024, memorably ramping Jasprit Bumrah three times in one over.

Billy plays grade cricket in Sydney alongside his day job where he combines cricket coaching with physiotherapy.

The elder Konstas is joined in the squad by another Greek-Aussie in 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.

Another Australian with Greek heritage, Peter Hatzoglou, has also been in discussions with the Greek federation, but is not currently eligible for selection.

The 27-year-old would be a coup for Greece given his substantial short-format franchise experience, including stints in The Hundred, Big Bash and Pakistan Super League.

At this stage it seems unlikely Nikitaras and Hatzoglou will be available, but should Greece make it through a 10-team European sub-regional qualifier C then they could come into the mix.

Sam Konstas, centre, with his family before his Test debut for Australia in December 2024 including brother Billy, second from the right. [Getty Images]

Could Greece follow Italy's lead?

Greece's decision to tap into their sizeable Australian diaspora - in excess of 400,000 people in the country have Greek ancestry - will inevitably draw some comparisons with Italy.

The Azzurri participated in their maiden T20 World Cup earlier this year having come through sub-regional qualifying.

None of Italy's squad at that tournament were born in the country, and they picked five Aussie-Italians including two sets of brothers - the Manentis and Moscas.

Senior figures involved with the Greek federation, though, have told BBC Sport they will exercise a degree of caution over the ongoing integration of Australian players with Greek heritage such as Konstas.

Greece's cricket scene is largely centred around the island of Corfu, where the sport has been played for more than two centuries and developing homegrown talent with a pathway to the national team is seen as a major priority.

Around two-thirds of their squad, overseen by coach Tim Dellor, for the European qualifier in Finland, were born in Greece.

Their party also includes a couple of UK-based players in Dimitrios Triandafillithis and Christodoulos Bogdanos, who both play club cricket in Yorkshire.

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.

Also in their pool are Portugal, who are set to be bolstered by the presence of veteran former Australia all-rounder Moises Henriques, who was born in Madeira.

BBC Sport understands Portugal may also be able to call upon opening batter Ricardo Vasconcelos, depending on his commitments with Northamptonshire.

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