By: Shubham Ghosh
On Tuesday (27), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) made an offer to do one of the most difficult things in cricket — hosting a bilateral Test series featuring arch-rivals India and Pakistan — with a goal to revive one of the most celebrated rivalry in the cricketing world. The two Asian giants have not played in a Test series since 2007 when Pakistan toured India. In the white-ball formats, their last bilateral series happened in India in 2012. The two teams mostly meet in multilateral tournaments nowadays played at neutral venues. Their most recent meetings took place during the Asia Cup in Dubai, UAE, where both teams won one game each. Their next encounter will take place in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Melbourne, Australia, next month.
However, the cricket board of Iceland, a little known cricket-playing nation, reacted to the ECB’s proposal in the most hilarious way possible.
According to ESPNCricinfo, ECB’s deputy chair Martin Darlow told Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ramiz Raja about his idea during his visit to that country. England are now playing Pakistan in a T20 series on their turf. It is their first visit to the South Asian nation in 17 years.
Ever since the news broke, fans started relishing the possibility of India and Pakistan playing each other in the red-ball format after a long time.
But Iceland Cricket intervened and came up with funny takes on the idea and actually poked fun at England over various cricket-related factors, such as the weather, Ashes trophy, etc.
“We hear @ECB_cricket have offered to host a Test series between India and Pakistan. We officially announce to @ICC that we are also offering to do the same & can provide near 24 hour daylight in June and July, as well as better Tweets covering the matches. Sniper security too,” Iceland cricket wrote.
We hear @ECB_cricket have offered to host a Test series between India and Pakistan.
We officially announce to @ICC that we are also offering to do the same & can provide near 24 hour daylight in June and July, as well as better Tweets covering the matches. Sniper security too.
— Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) September 27, 2022
In another savage swipe at the Ashes over which England lock horns with Australia, Iceland Cricket tweeted, “This is the Volcanic Ashes trophy for when Pakistan play India in a 3 Test series here. It’s currently given to the winners of our indoor club tournament, but we can create a new mickey mouse event & trophy for them. Filled with ash from our eruptions & set in a basaltic base.”
This is the Volcanic Ashes trophy for when Pakistan play India in a 3 Test series here. It's currently given to the winners of our indoor club tournament, but we can create a new mickey mouse event & trophy for them. Filled with ash from our eruptions & set in a basaltic base. pic.twitter.com/e9K30bJBi9
— Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) September 27, 2022
The fans were more than impressed by Iceland Cricket’s witty take. Here are some of their reactions:
The Best Cricket Twitter Account. Bar None. https://t.co/PQ5jBBY5Em
— Ahmed Afzal (@Dackified) September 28, 2022
???
Slipper shot to ECB ? https://t.co/OYarpnL9cD— Forever (@VashiForever) September 28, 2022
Best cricket board handle period.? https://t.co/H62KX6HHN4
— Vedant Pillay (@PillayVedant) September 28, 2022
Hahaha, @icelandcricket whoever is handling your social media page has handed you a massive ? ???
Too good ? https://t.co/sYnwe0tgSY
— Kaustubh Bhogle (@KaustubhKB13) September 28, 2022