Pakistan’s Super 8 campaign in the T20 World Cup has taken a hit after their loss to England at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. With one point from their washed-out opening match and a defeat against England, Pakistan now faces challenges in reaching the semifinals.
Under the captaincy of Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan needed a strong start in the Super 8 round, but their situation now relies on other teams’ results rather than their own.
Could Pakistan Still Qualify for the Semi-Finals?
The answer is yes, but the pathway is complicated.
After the loss to England, Pakistan has just one point from two group matches. Their final group match is against Sri Lanka, and a win there would bring them to three points.
Pakistan’s route to the semifinals is tough. They need New Zealand to lose both of their remaining matches, as they also have one point. Winning against Sri Lanka is crucial for Pakistan to gain two points. If this happens, New Zealand will finish with one point, Sri Lanka with two, and Pakistan with three, which should be enough for qualification.
However, if New Zealand wins any of their remaining matches, Pakistan’s chances will become more complicated.
Net Run Rate Could Play a Crucial Role
Another scenario could complicate matters further.
If Pakistan beats Sri Lanka, and New Zealand beats Sri Lanka but loses to England, both Pakistan and New Zealand could end up with three points. In such a situation, qualification would depend on Net Run Rate (NRR).
This means the margin of victory against Sri Lanka will be important for Pakistan to improve their NRR.
The only way Pakistan can be eliminated is if New Zealand wins both of their remaining matches. This would place New Zealand at five points, allowing England to qualify and eliminating Pakistan from the tournament.
Currently, Pakistan still has a chance, but their fate is not entirely in their own hands.
