Pakistan can still qualify for World Cup semi-finals if Australia, Afghanistan, New Zealand…: All scenarios explained
Pakistan, under the captaincy of Babar Azam, kick-started World Cup 2023 with two back-to-back victories. Pakistan won their opening match against the Netherlands in Hyderabad, before completing a World Cup-record run chase against Sri Lanka at the same venue.
Pakistan, however, suffered a massive slip in form since their meeting against India, the hosts of World Cup 2023, on 14 October. A poor batting performance saw them get bowled out for 199 against India, who comfortably won the game by seven wickets inside 31 overs at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
The defeat against India was followed by Pakistan receiving a thrashing from Australia and a lower-ranked Afghanistan, as well as a nail-biting loss to South Africa.
Pakistan’s net run rate fell to -0.378 after suffering four consecutive losses in the ongoing 50-over World Cup. But Azam’s side is just outside the top four with six points from five matches, with three more games to go in the group stage.
However, Babar & Co. are not out of the semi-final race as yet. There is a remote chance of them making it to the semi-finals but they need to win all their remaining games, that too by a big margin, and also hope for other results to go in their favour. As per a report in Cricket Addictor, Here are all the possible scenarios for the 1992 champions:
Pakistan’s Qualification Scenario For Semi-Finals:
- To win all their remaining games, beat New Zealand, Bangladesh and England (by big margins as well)
- Hope for England, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to beat five-time winners Australia
- For Pakistan to remain alive, they need the Kiwis to defeat Sri Lanka
- Hope for India’s win over the Netherlands.
- South Africa and Sri Lanka to beat Afghanistan, who have defeated Pakistan and England in the ongoing competition
- India or Bangladesh to defeat Sri Lanka.
Pakistan face Bangladesh next in the round-robin group stage followed by New Zealand and England.