Iceland Cricket added a touch of humour to the escalating T20 World Cup controversy, trolling Pakistan amid speculation over a possible boycott of the tournament.
The tongue-in-cheek post surfaced as off-field drama intensified following Bangladesh’s withdrawal and sharp remarks from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
The Iceland Cricket post, shared on social media, poked fun at the uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Joking that it was ready to step in if Pakistan pulled out, the associate nation drew widespread attention for its quirky take.
“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, but the flight schedule is a logistical nightmare to get us to Colombo in good time for 7th Feb. Our opening bat is an insomniac!” Iceland Cricket wrote.
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup theatrics
While the post was light-hearted, it came against a serious backdrop. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi recently criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for removing Bangladesh from the tournament after they refused to travel to India citing security concerns. Naqvi argued that Bangladesh, as a full ICC member, should have been granted the same concessions as Pakistan, whose matches in India-hosted ICC events are played at neutral venues.
The ICC, however, stood by its decision, saying independent security assessments by internal and external experts found no credible or verifiable threat to Bangladesh’s players, officials or supporters in India. With Bangladesh unwilling to travel despite those assurances, the ICC replaced them with Scotland.
ICC warns Pakistan against withdrawal
Naqvi’s comments fuelled speculation over whether Pakistan could contemplate a similar last-minute withdrawal, even though the PCB announced its 15-member squad for the tournament a day later. Sources told India Today that the ICC has warned Pakistan of heavy sanctions if it attempts a boycott, cautioning that such a move could have serious and long-term consequences for Pakistan cricket across formats.
Pakistan will compete under a hybrid model, with all their matches scheduled in Sri Lanka. The same arrangement applies to the 2026 T20 World Cup, with Pakistan set to play all their fixtures in Colombo. Naqvi has maintained that Bangladesh should have been offered a similar concession, adding that no country should dictate terms to another — a remark widely interpreted as a veiled dig at India.
Pakistan and India are set to face each other on February 15 in Colombo, with both teams placed in Group A.
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