Legendary England fast bowler James Anderson is all set for an exciting new chapter in his career. Lancashire’s decision to not offer James Anderson a new contract for next season has seen him join an ambitious project to grow franchise cricket in Italy.

Anderson will captain and co-own the Napoli Knights, one of six teams in the upcoming Italia T10 League. The new 10-over tournament will be played at the Roma Cricket Ground from November 18 to 29. His move is not just about playing cricket but also about helping cricket grow in Italy, which is known for football and Formula One.

James Anderson makes surprise career move as co-owner of Napoli Knights in Italia T10 League

With his playing future still unclear after Lancashire parted ways with the legendary bowler, the Italia T10 League offers James Anderson another exciting way to remain involved in the game. Anderson is now the co-owner of the Napoli Knights team in the tournament.

The league has been created by former cricketer Nadeem Shahid and Aamir Akhtar, who helped establish Nepal's Everest Premier League. It is being launched by Apex T10 Limited, a company owned by Shahid. On Tuesday, October 27, the organizers announced that the Napoli Knights franchise would be operated by British talent management agency Activate Sport and Leisure.

Former Lancashire wicketkeeper Luke Sutton, who runs the agency and managed Anderson earlier in his career, will co-own the team alongside the legendary England fast bowler. Additionally, Sutton and Anderson are also close friends.

However, it is not yet clear whether Anderson has invested his own money in the Napoli Knights or received an ownership share for his involvement. Amid this, Stuart Broad takes issue with Lancashire over James Anderson's treatment.

James Anderson opens up on new Italy cricket mission after Lancashire exit

Anderson and Sutton are excited about helping the league grow and making the Napoli Knights a competitive team. Their plans also include supporting cricket development in Italy, where the sport has been gaining attention in recent years.

James Anderson said in a press release as quoted by Cricinfo, "Cricket has given me so much throughout my career, and the opportunity to be involved in the game in a completely different way is something I'm really excited about. Luke and I have a close history, so to be taking on this new challenge together is particularly special.”

The legendary further added, “The Italia T10 is an exciting concept, and there's a huge opportunity to help raise the profile of cricket in Italy while bringing together some fantastic players and creating an entertaining tournament. Of course, we want Napoli Knights to be competitive and challenge for the title, but we also want to contribute to something that continues to grow well beyond the tournament itself.”

Italy plans big cricket push with franchise league

Activate Sport and Leisure will be involved in cricket clinics aimed at developing local players. Italy wants to build a strong group of homegrown cricketers who can compete at the Olympic level by the 2032 Brisbane Games.

Italy has already taken a big step forward, having made its first appearance at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 and recorded a memorable 10-wicket win over Nepal in a group match.

The Italy team currently depends heavily on players born outside Italy but having Italian roots, including Derbyshire batter Wayne Madsen and Australian all-rounder Harry Manenti, who have captained the side.

The Italia T10 League has also attracted other major investors. The owners of Pakistan Super League franchise Quetta Gladiators have purchased the Rome team, while Indian and Pakistani businessmen are among the other investors involved in the tournament.