In yesterday’s BPL auction, franchises showed surprisingly little interest in signing foreign players. Amid this lukewarm response, Rangpur Riders pulled off a remarkable move. They secured the services of left-handed opener Emilio Gay from Italy for just $10,000—a selection reportedly made at the player’s own request. The question on everyone’s mind: who exactly is this Italian cricketer, and why did Rangpur pick him over more familiar names?
Despite representing Italy internationally, Emilio is more of an English cricketer by upbringing and experience. He has played only seven matches for Italy—four One Day Internationals and three T20s. Last November, he played four ODIs for Italy, scoring fifty in each game. His T20 debut came in July, and in only his second match, he scored a fifty against Scotland. All three of his T20 matches were part of the ICC T20 World Cup Europe Regional Finals.
The 25-year-old was born in Bedford, England, to an Italian mother and a Grenadian father. His Italian heritage through his mother makes him eligible to represent Italy. However, his ultimate goal remains playing for England. He is a regular in county cricket, having scored 4,150 runs in 67 first-class matches at an average of 37.38, including ten centuries. His highest score is 261, and he currently plays for Durham in England.
Emilio has openly expressed his dream of representing England and admits the frustration of not yet achieving it. Explaining why he chose Italy, he told Sky Sports late last year, “My aim has always been to excel in red-ball cricket. I am well established in county cricket, but I also want to improve in white-ball cricket. That is why I decided to play for Italy.”
According to ECB rules, any British citizen who represents another full-member nation at U17 level or above is barred from playing for England. However, playing for an associate member like Italy does not carry such restrictions. Emilio is likely well aware of this regulation.
Rangpur Riders’ move may seem unconventional, but Emilio’s proven talent in both red-ball and white-ball cricket makes him a potentially valuable asset in this year’s BPL.