Greece has added Billy Konstas, the 24-year-old brother of Australia Test opener Sam Konstas, to its 14-man cricket squad. The team is preparing for a European qualifying event in Finland this August, mounting a surprise bid to secure a spot in the 2028 men’s T20 World Cup.
The Hellenic Cricket Federation has turned its attention to the sizeable Australian diaspora to bolster its national side. More than 400,000 people living in Australia claim Greek ancestry, presenting a deep talent pool for a country looking to make waves on the international cricket stage.
The Konstas Brothers and Australian Additions
Billy Konstas, who works as a cricket coach and physiotherapist while playing grade cricket in Sydney, is four years older than his brother Sam Konstas made his Test debut for Australia at the age of 19 during the Boxing Day Test in 2024 against India, memorably ramping Jasprit Bumrah three times in one over. While Sam has established himself on the international stage with Australia, Billy will don the blue and white for Greece’s 14-man squad for a European qualifying event in Finland from 14 to 21 August.
The roster additions do not stop with the elder Konstas. The squad also features 21-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder Blake Faunce, who previously played representative age-group cricket for the Australian Capital Territory.
Talks With First-Class and Franchise Talent
Federation officials have cast a wide net across the Pacific. The Hellenic Cricket Federation also held discussions with 26-year-old Blake Nikitaras, a first-class player for New South Wales who has featured in the Big Bash for the Sydney Thunder. Nikitaras carries family pedigree into the mix; his father Steve previously represented Greece’s national side toward the end of his professional career.
Discussions also took place with 27-year-old Peter Hatzoglou. Securing Hatzoglou would be a major coup given his extensive short-format franchise experience across major competitions like The Hundred, Big Bash and Pakistan Super League. At this stage, however, neither Nikitaras nor Hatzoglou is immediately available for selection.
Balancing Diaspora Talent With Homegrown Roots
The strategy of importing talent from the Southern Hemisphere invites immediate comparisons to Italy. The Azzurri reached their maiden T20 World Cup earlier this year through sub-regional qualifying with a squad where none of the players were born in the country, notably utilizing five Aussie-Italians, including two sets of brothers in the Manentis and the Moscas.
Despite following a similar path, senior figures within the Greek federation have indicated they will approach the integration of Australian heritage players with caution. Cricket in Greece remains anchored to the island of Corfu, where the sport boasts a history spanning more than two centuries. Developing homegrown talent with a clear pathway to the national team remains a central priority for local administrators.
To that end, roughly two-thirds of the squad traveling to Finland under coach Tim Dellor were born in Greece. The roster also integrates UK-based players Dimitrios Triandafillithis and Christodoulos Bogdanos, both of whom play club cricket in Yorkshire.
A Tough Road Through European Qualifying
Securing a spot in the 2028 tournament will require navigating a challenging group stage. Greece faces a difficult path through the 10-team European sub-regional qualifier C, having landed in a group alongside tournament favorites Germany.
Also sharing the pool is Portugal, which anticipates receiving a boost from veteran all-rounder Moises Henriques, a Madeira native and former Australia international. Portugal may also be able to call upon opening batter Ricardo Vasconcelos, depending on his availability and county commitments with Northamptonshire.
Should Greece manage to advance past this initial hurdle, federation officials indicate that players currently on the periphery, such as Hatzoglou and Nikitaras, could potentially re-enter the selection mix for later rounds.
