Too busy for T20 World Cup: Iceland rules out stepping in for Pakistan
Cricket
Pakistan is expected to make a final decision by next week regarding its participation in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
ICELAND (Web Desk) - As uncertainty continues to surround Pakistan’s participation in next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Iceland Cricket has once again grabbed attention with its trademark humour, joking that it is no longer available to replace the Green Shirts.
Pakistan is expected to make a final decision by next week regarding its participation, with speculation of a possible boycott following Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the event.
The lack of clarity has fuelled debate across the cricketing world.
Amid the unfolding situation, Iceland Cricket — despite not being a member of the International Cricket Council — had earlier joked that it was “ready to take off” if Pakistan decided not to participate.
However, in a fresh post on Thursday, Iceland Cricket’s X (formerly Twitter) account announced that it would not be stepping in.
“It is with a heavy heart that we now announce our unavailability to replace Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup,” the post read.
"Regardless of whether they now withdraw, the short timescales ensure it is impossible for our squad to prepare in the professional manner necessary to compete effectively in this global cricketing spectacle."
Dear @ICC,
— Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) January 29, 2026
It is with a heavy heart that we now announce our unavailability to replace Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Regardless of whether they now withdraw, the short timescales ensure it is impossible for our squad to prepare in the professional manner necessary to…
Taking a playful jab at the ICC’s earlier decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland, the account added:
“We are not like Scotland and able to turn up on a whim, with no kit sponsor.”
Iceland Cricket said its players could not simply abandon their day jobs to travel across the world.
“Our players are from all walks of life and cannot simply drop their occupations to fly halfway around the world to experience temperatures only normally felt in Finnish saunas,” the post said.
The account went on to describe the team’s colourful lineup:
“Our captain, a professional baker, needs to attend to his oven, our ship captain needs to steer his vessel, and our bankers need to go bankrupt (again). This is the harsh reality of cricket at the amateur level of the game.”
Expressing mock disappointment for fans, the post added that the decision would be “extremely disappointing” and joked about the matches that might have been.
