From Lava Fields to Leagues: Iceland Cricket’s Unlikely Rise and Our Euro Cup Journey

When I first moved to Iceland over two decades ago, cricket was the last thing anyone expected to associate with this land of fire and ice. Yet here we are in 2025, having just returned from competing in the Euro Cup in Poland—representing Iceland on an international cricketing stage.

Cricket in Iceland is often assumed to be an expat novelty, a pastime for South Asian immigrants yearning for a piece of home. But its origins tell a far more nuanced and fascinating story. As Kit Harris recounts in his brilliant book From Lord’s to the Fjords: The Saga of Icelandic Cricket, the sport’s seeds were planted in the most unexpected of ways. In 1999, after watching the unforgettable South Africa–Australia World Cup semi-final in a bar in Cyprus, two Icelanders—Ragnar and Stefán—were so moved by the drama of the match that they returned home inspired to build something new. They had no rulebook, no kit, and no opponents. But they had conviction.

That spirit—of curiosity, initiative, and sheer will—still defines Iceland Cricket. While there were earlier glimpses of the sport, like a 1943 wartime match between the Royal Navy and RAF (which featured a descendant of the famous Grace family), the modern chapter truly began with that post-vacation determination to make cricket Icelandic.

My own journey into the team came later, but I was drawn to that same pioneering spirit. I joined a group that was already diverse and welcoming, with players from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the UK, Australia, South Africa—and yes, Iceland too. In our early days, we played in public parks, often to the curious stares of Icelanders walking their dogs or enjoying the rare sunshine. Many asked, “What game is this?”—a question that slowly gave way to interest, and eventually, support.

In 2020, I took over as Chairman of the Iceland Cricket Association, with a mission to expand the game’s reach and structure. Since then, we’ve helped establish two additional clubs, bringing the total to five cricket clubs actively competing in Iceland. We now run four domestic tournaments, and for the first time, the national team is selected based on performance in these leagues. That ecosystem ensures meritocracy, consistency, and a healthy pipeline of talent.

In 2024, I also stepped into the role of head coach of the national team, working with our players to shape a more disciplined, role-driven, and competitive squad. We trained through Icelandic spring snows and summer winds, unified by a shared goal—to prove that we belonged on a bigger stage.

This summer’s Euro Cup campaign in Poland was a turning point. We competed against well-established European sides, often with decades of infrastructure behind them. Yet, match after match, we held our own. We chased targets with composure, bowled with intent, and fielded like our lives depended on it. Our performances earned not just runs and wickets—but respect. At one point, the local Polish crowd began chanting for Iceland. That moment will stay with me forever.

Cricket in Iceland has come a long way—from that pub epiphany in Cyprus, to games in local parks, to competing internationally. What we’re building here is more than a team. It’s a movement, one that shows how sport can bridge cultures, inspire youth, and carve out new identities.

Looking ahead, our vision is bold and focused. We are building a structured youth development program to introduce cricket to Icelandic children through schools and clubs. We are also laying the groundwork for women’s cricket in Iceland—a vital next step in ensuring inclusivity and sustainability for the sport. Our ultimate goal is to make Iceland an ICC Affiliate Member by 2030, allowing us to compete in ICC-sanctioned international tournaments and proudly represent this island nation on the global stage.

If we’ve learned anything, it’s that no dream is too strange, no land too cold, and no boundary too far for cricket to take root—and flourish.

Jai Hind and Áfram Ísland!

About the Author

Bala Kamallakharan is the head coach of the national team and was the Chairman of the Iceland Cricket Association from 2020 to 2024. He is also a venture investor and founder of Startup Iceland, actively working to build global bridges through sport and entrepreneurship.