Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan foresees New Zealand securing a spot in the 2023 World Cup semi-finals over Pakistan, provided rain doesn’t intervene in their upcoming clash against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru on November 9.
In a recent discussion on Star Sports, Pathan expressed his optimism for the Kiwis.
“New Zealand is more likely to win, with a chance over 50%. The only issue is rain, which has benefited Pakistan before. We’ll have to see if the Bangalore rain favours them again,” he said.
Pathan acknowledged the significance of the toss for New Zealand, emphasizing the advantage of chasing on the Bengaluru pitch.
“I think the toss will be crucial for New Zealand since chasing is better on this pitch. Despite the challenges, I still believe New Zealand will be the fourth team,” he added.
With a net run rate of +0.398, New Zealand is in a favorable position compared to Pakistan and Afghanistan, who have net run rates of +0.036 and -0.338, respectively. A victory for New Zealand against the Lankans will all but guarantee their spot in the semi-finals, given their superior run rate.