‘Ready to fly… Or not’: Iceland Cricket roasts Pakistan, ICC in viral T20 drama

The Nordic nation’s cricket body took playful digs at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC), offering — and then dramatically withdrawing — its “availability” to replace Pakistan in the tournament beginning February 7.

Pakistan is expected to formally clarify its stance by Friday or Monday following PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The delay has triggered widespread speculation, particularly after the ICC recently removed Bangladesh from the tournament and replaced them with Scotland.

Iceland Cricket trolls Pakistan for T20 World Cup theatrics. Photo: Facebook/@icelandcricket

The ICC’s decision to drop Bangladesh followed repeated refusals by the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the country’s interim government to tour India for the T20 World Cup, citing security concerns.

Scotland was named as the replacement, a move that Pakistan has openly criticised.

Islamabad has protested what it sees as inconsistent decision-making by the ICC, especially as Pakistan continues to weigh its own options regarding participation.

Despite the uncertainty, Pakistan has already announced its squad for the 20-team tournament, largely mirroring the lineup set to face Australia.

'Ready to take off'

Reacting to the unfolding drama, Iceland Cricket posted a tongue-in-cheek message on X, claiming it was ready to replace Pakistan should the former champions pull out.

“We really need Pakistan to decide soon upon their participation in the T20 WC. We are ready to take off as soon as they pull out on 2nd Feb,” the post read, before joking about nightmarish travel logistics and an insomniac opening batter.

To amplify the satire, the account shared a screenshot of supposed travel plans from Keflavík to Colombo, underlining the absurdity of a last-minute World Cup call-up.

Iceland mocks everyone else

A day later, Iceland Cricket escalated the humour by announcing it would, in fact, not be replacing Pakistan — even if the latter withdrew.

In another viral post, the board cited “short timescales” and the impossibility of preparing “in a professional manner,” while firing shots at Scotland, Uganda, and even the United States.

The post humorously described Iceland’s players as amateurs with full-time professions — including a baker captain, a ship captain, and bankers — who could not simply abandon their jobs to compete in tropical conditions.

“We are not like Scotland and able to turn up on a whim, with no kit sponsor,” the statement read, before taking aim at Uganda’s fluorescent kits and American geography, all wrapped in trademark Icelandic deadpan.

A satirical voice with serious reach

Though Iceland is not currently an ICC member, the country aims to gain Associate status by 2026–27.

Until then, its cricket board has carved out a unique niche online, regularly using humour, historical references, and self-deprecation to comment on global cricketing affairs.