Australia Crash Out of T20 World Cup as Iceland Cricket Mocks Steve Smith Snub

Australia’s early exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 was confirmed on Tuesday after Ireland’s must-win Group B clash against Zimbabwe was abandoned due to rain in Pallekele, leaving the former champions mathematically out of contention. The elimination prompted a wave of criticism and mockery with Cricket Iceland taking a swipe at Australia’s puzzling decision to bench Steve Smith in their decisive loss to Sri Lanka.

Australia’s fate was effectively sealed by defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, results that left them reliant on other teams’ outcomes. While the washout was beyond the control of Mitchell Marsh’s side, the campaign unravelled earlier with performances that fell short of expectations. Australia had opened with a win over Ireland on February 11 before slipping to Zimbabwe on February 13 and being convincingly beaten by Sri Lanka on February 16.

Iceland Cricket Trolls Steve Smith Omission

The flashpoint for online ridicule was Australia’s handling of Steve Smith, who was flown in from Australia as a late replacement for injured pacer Josh Hazlewood ahead of the Sri Lanka game — only to be left out of the playing XI.

Cricket Iceland posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“The best thing about the T20 World Cup for Steve Smith was the airport duty-free. We would treat him better, with a statue and a lifetime supply of free cod. Sometimes, your best assets get forgotten.”

The tongue-in-cheek post went viral, amplifying criticism of Australia’s selection call in a must-win fixture.

Marsh: ‘We Haven’t Been at Our Best’

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh admitted the group was left reeling after the Sri Lanka defeat.
“It’s a devastated group,” Marsh said. “We’re in the lap of the gods now with the way it’s shaped up. There are a lot of emotions in the rooms right now. We haven’t been at our best.”

Selection Call Under Scrutiny

Smith’s omission has drawn particular scrutiny given his recent form. The veteran batter entered the World Cup on the back of an impressive BBL 2025–26 campaign, scoring 299 runs in six matches for the Sydney Sixers at a strike rate close to 170. His late addition to the squad raised expectations that he would feature in Australia’s do-or-die encounter — expectations that went unmet.

Australia’s selectors have not publicly detailed the rationale behind leaving Smith out of the XI, but the decision has been widely questioned by former players and fans alike, especially after the team failed to put up a competitive challenge against Sri Lanka.

A Campaign to Forget

For Australia, the 2026 T20 World Cup ends in disappointment, marked by missed opportunities, a lack of consistency, and contentious selection calls. The fallout now shifts to introspection ahead of the next ICC cycle, with the team’s approach to squad balance and match-day selections likely to face close review.