What began as a formal pre-match ceremony quickly turned into a moment of laughter for the New Zealand national cricket team ahead of their Super 8 fixture against England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo on Friday.
A sped-up version of New Zealand’s national anthem, God Defend New Zealand, was mistakenly played at the venue, leaving players struggling to keep pace. As the tempo raced ahead, several cricketers — including Kyle Jamieson, Finn Allen and James Neesham — were seen trying to hold back laughter.
The situation quickly turned comical, with Neesham breaking into laughter as cameras panned across the lineup. Even members of the support staff appeared amused as the anthem continued at the incorrect speed, creating one of the more unusual moments of the tournament.
Not the First ICC Anthem Mishap
This is not the first time an ICC event has witnessed such an embarrassment.
During a group-stage match of the 2025 Champions Trophy in Lahore, the Indian national anthem was briefly played instead of Pakistan’s, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board to seek clarification from the ICC.
Similarly, at the 2025 Asia Cup in Dubai, a Bollywood song was inadvertently played in place of Pakistan’s anthem before their high-profile clash against India.
Result Adds to New Zealand’s Worries
While the anthem episode provided light-hearted relief, the on-field outcome was far less amusing for New Zealand.
They suffered a thrilling four-wicket defeat to the England national cricket team, leaving their semifinal hopes hanging in the balance.
New Zealand must now wait for the result of Saturday’s clash between Sri Lanka and Pakistan to determine their fate. A victory would have sealed their spot in the semifinals, but Pakistan now have a chance to overtake them on net run rate.
For Pakistan to advance:
- If batting first, they must win by at least 65 runs.
- If chasing, they need to complete the target within 13.1 overs.
