The great English fast bowler James Anderson is starting a new chapter in his career, transitioning from playing on the field to becoming a businessman. He has taken on the role of co-owner of the Napoli Knights franchise, based in Naples, Italy. This team will participate in the first season of the Italian T10 league, which starts next month.
According to an Associated Press (AP) report, the announcement of this new role was made shortly after Anderson concluded his 25-year association with Lancashire. Furthermore, uncertainty remains regarding the future playing path of Anderson, who is a record holder for the most wickets taken in Tests for England.
In addition to Anderson, former Lancashire wicketkeeper Luke Sutton will be a co-owner of Napoli Knights. The franchise ownership will be managed by the British talent management and sports consulting agency Activate Sport & Leisure.
Anderson shared his impressions of the new responsibility, noting that cricket has given him much throughout his career. He expressed great enthusiasm about the opportunity to connect with the game in a completely different way. He also emphasized that working with Luke Sutton is special, given their long-standing connection. In Anderson's view, Italia T10 represents an exciting concept and a huge chance to promote cricket in Italy, bringing together outstanding players and hosting spectacular tournaments.
For a long time, cricket in Italy had limited popularity. However, interest in the sport has grown this year after Italy qualified for the T20 World Cup for the first time and defeated Nepal by 10 wickets in a group match.
The Italia T10 league is scheduled to take place from November 18th to 29th and will feature six teams. The tournament is initiated by Apex T10 Limited, owned by Nadeem Shahid, a former batsman from Essex and Surrey.
Shahid commented on the addition of Anderson and Sutton to the franchise, noting that he played against both players many times and knows about their competitive spirit. He believes that uniting these two figures as owners of Napoli Knights is a significant event for Italia T10. Shahid also mentioned that three English players connected with county cricket will help promote cricket in Italy.
Luke Sutton manages Activate Sport & Leisure and previously served as Anderson's manager in the early stages of his career. Both spent time in Lancashire from 2006 to 2010. Sutton stated that participating in this ambitious initiative with Anderson is a wonderful opportunity after a long time in the world of cricket. Their goal is to develop the sport in an emerging cricket nation—Italy.
He added that for Activate Sport & Leisure, this is not limited to simply owning one cricket franchise. The company intends to create a lasting legacy for cricket in Italy, utilizing its experience and connections with English schools and clubs involved in sports development.