Iceland Cricket once again took a cheeky swipe at Pakistan, reacting to the latter’s decision to withdraw their boycott and confirm participation in the India vs Pakistan group-stage match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Following Pakistan’s U-turn, Iceland Cricket posted a sarcastic message on X (formerly Twitter):
“The Pakistanis are back on Sunday and what a glorious decision made for the good of cricket and mankind! We knew they were bluffing. Unforfeiture confirmed!”
Pakistan, now unforfeited, are truly back in business, metaphorically speaking. Two wins in the bag and the big match is coming up on Sunday. As the famous Swedish cricket pundits, ABBA, always say, "the winner takes it all, the loser standing small."
The PCB and BCB have demanded a tri-series with India. They should have demanded one with us, because we would have said 'yes' and provided a safe operating space on one of our lava fields for the matches. We are not into brinkmanship.
This is far from the first time Iceland Cricket has trolled Pakistan on social media. The associate nation has previously gained global attention for its witty and often irreverent posts on international cricketing developments.
We have heard the rumours that Pakistan v India could be back on again.
Is unforfeiture an actual word in the English language?
Maybe everyone should just use the Icelandic word of óuppgerð.
Earlier, Iceland Cricket had taken another dig while reacting to reports involving the PCB and BCB seeking a tri-series with India.
“The PCB and BCB have demanded a tri-series with India. They should have demanded one with us, because we would have said ‘yes’ and provided a safe operating space on one of our lava fields for the matches. We are not into brinkmanship,” Iceland Cricket wrote.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s decision to participate was formally confirmed through an official government statement. The Government of Pakistan, via its verified social media handle, said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had been briefed by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi following discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
“In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions as well as the request of friendly countries, the government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15 in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” the statement read.
The ICC, in its official release, emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation among member boards.
“The dialogue between ICC and PCB took place as part of a broader engagement, recognising the need for constructive dealings and a shared commitment to serve the best interests of the game with integrity, neutrality and cooperation,” the statement said.
It further added:
“In that prevailing spirit, it was agreed that all members will respect their commitments as per the terms of participation for ICC events and do all that is necessary to ensure that the ongoing edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a success.”
Regarding Bangladesh, the ICC reiterated its continued support for the growth of cricket in the country, noting its massive fan base of over 200 million people, and stressed that the team’s non-participation in the tournament would not have any long-term impact on the sport in the region.
