Iceland Cricket jokes about replacing Pakistan as T20 World Cup uncertainty continues

Iceland Cricket sparked widespread amusement on social media after offering to replace Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup amid speculation that the team could boycott the tournament over security concerns.

Pakistan is expected to clarify its position either on Friday or Monday following a meeting between Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The tournament is scheduled to begin on February 7, with matches to be held across India and Sri Lanka.

Reacting to the uncertainty, Iceland Cricket posted a tongue-in-cheek message on X on Wednesday, saying it was ready to step in if Pakistan pulled out. The post joked about logistical challenges, including tight travel schedules from Iceland to Colombo, and added humour by claiming their opening batter was an insomniac. The account also shared a screenshot of supposed travel plans to underline the joke.

The post comes days after the International Cricket Council removed Bangladesh from the tournament and replaced them with Scotland. Bangladesh had reiterated its refusal to tour India for the T20 World Cup, citing security concerns.

Pakistan has protested the ICC decision to replace Bangladesh, arguing against the move after the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the country’s interim government maintained their stance. Despite the uncertainty, Pakistan has already announced its squad for the 20-team tournament, which largely mirrors the group set to face Australia.