The match on February 15 between India and Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo felt crucial, resembling a final more than a Group A match. In the 27th game of the T20 World Cup 2026, India secured a decisive 61-run win, extending their advantage over Pakistan. With Ishan Kishan scoring 77 runs and a strong bowling effort that restricted Pakistan to just 114 runs, India advanced to the Super 8s. For Pakistan, this defeat has led to urgent mathematical concerns and a weakened Net Run Rate (NRR).
Pakistan drops to third with damaged Net Run Rate
The defeat in Colombo has negatively impacted Salman Ali Agha’s team. Before the match, Pakistan was in a solid position, but losing by 61 runs severely affected their standings. They are now in third place in Group A, behind the USA, due to their NRR.
India is leading the group with six points and a strong NRR of +3.050. The USA is in second place with four points and an NRR of +0.787, while Pakistan, also with four points, has an NRR of -0.403. This dip is due to their struggle in chasing India’s 175 runs, losing wickets quickly, and failing to score even 120 runs. In this tournament format, every point counts, making Pakistan’s NRR deficit a significant concern against the USA.
Pakistan’s path to Super 8 qualification
Despite the setbacks, Pakistan can still determine its fate but under pressure. Their qualification now hinges on one key outcome: defeat Namibia on February 18.
If Pakistan wins, they will secure six points. Since the USA has completed all their group matches with only four points, a win for Pakistan would elevate them to second place, regardless of the NRR situation. However, if Namibia were to beat Pakistan, the USA would qualify for the Super 8s, as they would have a better NRR than Pakistan, which would remain at four points but with a lower NRR.
The Netherlands also has a theoretical chance, though it is complicated. For them to qualify, they need to defeat India by a large margin (over 100 runs) and hope Namibia beats Pakistan. This scenario would create a three-way tie at four points among the USA, Pakistan, and the Netherlands, requiring the Dutch to improve their NRR significantly. For Pakistan, the situation is clearer: they must win in Colombo on Wednesday to avoid elimination.
