ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s chances of reaching the semifinals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup have become extremely difficult following their defeat to England cricket team, but qualification remains mathematically possible.
Pakistan must now rely on other results while also securing a victory in their remaining Super 8 match.
The key factor in Pakistan’s qualification hopes is the performance of New Zealand national cricket team, who still have two Super 8 matches to play against Sri Lanka national cricket team and England.
Qualification scenarios
Pakistan can still reach the semifinals under two possible scenarios:
Scenario one:
If New Zealand lose both of their remaining matches against Sri Lanka and England, Pakistan will qualify for the semifinals by defeating Sri Lanka.
Scenario two:
If New Zealand lose one of their remaining matches, Pakistan will need to beat Sri Lanka and improve their net run rate enough to move ahead of New Zealand in the standings.
Advantage for Pakistan
Pakistan have a scheduling advantage as their final Super Eight match against Sri Lanka will be played on Feb. 28. By the time Pakistan take the field, New Zealand will have already completed their remaining fixtures.
This means Pakistan will know the exact margin of victory required to qualify if New Zealand lose one or both of their matches, allowing them to plan their approach accordingly.
Early elimination risk
Pakistan will be eliminated from the tournament if New Zealand win both of their remaining matches, regardless of Pakistan’s result against Sri Lanka.
With their fate no longer entirely in their own hands, Pakistan must now wait for favorable results while preparing for a must-win match to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
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