The latest triumph of South Africa against New Zealand breaths a new life into the hopes of Pakistani cricket fans who wants to see their team in the semi-final stage of the World Cup 2023.
Pakistan’s net run rate has seen a slight improvement after an emphatic win against Bangladesh on Tuesday, but with six points from seven matches and a net run rate of -0.024, Pakistan faces a daunting task ahead with two more group stage games on the horizon.
In their upcoming clash, Pakistan is set to face New Zealand in a must-win encounter on Saturday, 4 November, followed by a match against bottom-table team England on 11 November.
The Pakistani camp is well aware of the challenges at hand, understanding the necessity of not only securing victories but also doing so by a significant margin to drastically improve their net run rate.
The equation is complex for Pakistan: win both remaining matches, hope for New Zealand or Australia to stumble, and enhance their net run rate substantially. In the event of a tie in points with either Australia or New Zealand, the net run rate will be the deciding factor.
New Zealand, currently placed third in the standings, has only two matches left, with the final one against Sri Lanka. If New Zealand falters against both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Pakistan’s path to the semi-finals becomes significantly clearer. In this scenario, Pakistan would only need to win their matches against England and New Zealand to secure a spot in the knockout stage.
India and South Africa have been exceptional in this tournament, securing their places in the semi-finals with their outstanding performances. Meanwhile, the third and fourth spots are fiercely contested between New Zealand and Australia, both accumulating eight points from six matches.
Australia, in a commanding position, is set to face weaker opponents in their next three matches. Pakistani fans are now closely monitoring New Zealand’s matches, knowing that any stumble from the Kiwis could open doors for their team.
As the tournament intensifies, Pakistan’s journey to the semi-finals hangs in the balance. With their fate resting on a delicate balance of victories, net run rate, and the performance of other teams, the Men in Green and their supporters remain on the edge of their seats, hoping for a favorable turn of events in the remaining fixtures.
