In a thrilling turn of events, Pakistan revived their hopes for a spot in the 2023 World Cup semi-finals with a remarkable win over New Zealand. Fakhar Zaman’s explosive 126 off 71 balls propelled Pakistan to a formidable 200-1 in 25.3 overs. Pakistan secured a 21-run victory (DLS) in a rain-affected match in Bengaluru.
This crucial win places Pakistan on level points with both New Zealand and Afghanistan. Despite being tied, New Zealand maintains a lead over Babar Azam’s men in NRR. They boast a net run rate of +0.398 compared to Pakistan’s newly positive NRR of +0.036.
Heading into their final group stage clash against England on November 11, Pakistan faces a do-or-die situation. Their qualification for the semi-finals hinges on multiple factors, and we explore the possible scenarios.
- Sri Lanka’s Role: Before Pakistan takes on England, they rely on Sri Lanka to perform well against New Zealand on November 9. If Sri Lanka triumphs and Pakistan secures a victory against England, they will accumulate 10 points, surpassing New Zealand by two.
- Afghanistan’s Matches: The outcome of Afghanistan’s remaining two matches holds significance. If Australia or South Africa can defeat Afghanistan, preventing them from reaching 10 points, Pakistan’s position strengthens.
- Net Run Rate Dynamics: In the complex scenario where Afghanistan wins both matches, Pakistan’s fate depends on Net Run Rate. Given New Zealand’s higher NRR, Pakistan would need to beat England by a significant margin—130 runs or more—if New Zealand’s victory margin is narrow, say by just 1 run.
- Afghanistan’s Threat: Throughout these scenarios, Afghanistan remains a threat. Pakistan hopes for defeats for Afghanistan at the hands of Australia and South Africa to secure their semi-final spot.