The special XI features a maximum of three captains from Australia, two each from India, West Indies, and Pakistan, along with one each from England and Sri Lanka. The team is led by West Indies legend Clive Lloyd, widely regarded as one of the greatest captains of all time. Lloyd captained the West Indies in three World Cups in 1975, 1979 and 1983, winning two of them in 1975 and 1979.
Lloyd was picked as the number three batter, while Jos Buttler and Ricky Ponting were named as the openers. Notably, Buttler helped England grab the T20 World Cup title in 2022 after defeating Pakistan in the summit clash. Ponting, on the other hand, was just like Lloyd, considered one of the finest leaders the game has ever seen. Under Punter, Australia won two back-to-back ODI World Cups in 2003 and 2007.
Another Aussie, Steve Waugh, regarded as one of the toughest captains, was also picked by Iceland Cricket but on the ninth number with two of the greatest all-rounders, Imran Khan and Kapil Dev, ahead of him. Notably, Waugh led Australia to a 1999 ODI World Cup win, while Imran and Kapil guided Pakistan and India to 1992 and 1983 World Cup triumphs.
Former India skipper MS Dhoni, ex-Pakistan captain Younis Khan and Aussie legend Allan Border were named in the middle-order in the special playing XI. Dhoni was one the most successful leaders in cricket history, winning major ICC titles like T20 World Cup (2007), ODI World Cup (2011) and the Champions Trophy (2013). Similarly, Younis led Pakistan to a 2009 T20 World Cup victory, and Border captained Australia to their first-ever World Cup win in 1987.
The remaining two players picked by Iceland Cricket in their special XI were Darren Sammy and Lasith Malinga. While Sammy led West Indies to two T20 World Cup titles in 2012 and 2016, Malinga captained Sri Lanka to the 2014 T20 World Cup triumph.
The likes of Arjun Ranatunga, Eoin Morgan, Michael Clarke, Aaron Finch and Paul Collingwood were named in the reserves by Iceland Cricket.
Iceland Cricket’s World XI
Jos Buttler, Ricky Ponting, Clive Lloyd (captain), Younis Khan, MS Dhoni (wk), Allan Border, Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, Steve Waugh, Darren Sammy, Lasith Malinga
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