On Tuesday, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh at Eden Gardens, ending their four-match losing streak in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. This victory brought Pakistan to fifth place on the points table, three wins in seven matches.
While Pakistan remains in contention for a semi-final position, their road ahead is full of difficulties.
In order to qualify for the semi-finals, Pakistan must win its remaining games against New Zealand and England.
In addition to victories, Pakistan requires favorable results in other matches.
They expect Australia and New Zealand to lose all of their remaining matches, while Afghanistan expects to win at least one of their three remaining games, notably against Australia.
In this scenario, New Zealand, Australia, and Afghanistan each finish with eight points, allowing Pakistan to progress with 10.
This excursion, however, is fraught with difficulties, especially as Australia, who is currently at fourth place with eight points, has games against England, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. They aim to win at least two games and reach at 12 points, earning a semi-final berth.
New Zealand, which is presently third with eight points, has games against South Africa, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Pakistan must defeat New Zealand and hope for a huge run rate difference if both teams end with ten points.
Afghanistan, which is now in sixth place with six points, might hinder Pakistan’s qualifying.
In order for Pakistan to finish with 8 points, Afghanistan needs to defeat Australia while losing their other two games.
If Afghanistan wins two of their remaining games, Pakistan have to increase their net run rate to make the semi-finals.
However, if Afghanistan wins all of their remaining games and secures 12 points, Pakistan’s prospects of qualifying are over.
So therefore, Pakistan’s path to the semi-finals is dependent on a number of external events, but their first aim is to win all of their remaining matches so that these possibilities can play out.
Pakistan’s bid for a World Cup semi-final position is in doubt, and cricket fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the outcome of this thrilling tournament.
