The T20 World Cup 2026 is all set to kick off on February 7, but there is still no clarity on Pakistan's participation in the tournament, which is scheduled to be played in India and Sri Lanka. After the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland, the Pakistan Cricket Board expressed their disappointment with the decision and has threatened to pull out of the tournament as a protest.
Notably, Bangladesh refused to travel to India for their T20 WC matches and asked the ICC to shift their games to Sri Lanka. However, the ICC denied the request, and it led to their escalated stand-off against the PCB and the BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board). Amid the ongoing chaos, Iceland Cricket, known for its playful jabs on social media, once again took a humorous stance on the issue.
Iceland Cricket joked that the team would not be able to replace Pakistan even if the ICC asked them, as it is just too late now, saying they are not like “Scotland,” which can come at the last minute and replace another team (Bangladesh).
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"Dear@ICC, 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 compete effectively in this global cricketing spectacle. We are not like Scotland and able to turn up on a whim, with no kit sponsor," the official handle of Iceland Cricket wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
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"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. 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," it added.
Notably, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi stated that a final decision on Pakistan's participation in the mega event will be taken by the government either on Friday or Monday. In case Pakistan withdraw from the tournament, Uganda will replace them as per the ICC rankings rule. Notably, Iceland are not a member country of the International Cricket Council.