In the latest turn of events at the ICC World Cup 2023, Australia secured their spot in the semi-finals with a thrilling win over Afghanistan, leaving Pakistan with a challenging road ahead. The Green Shirts’ chances now heavily rely on Sri Lanka’s upcoming match against New Zealand.
Australia’s remarkable victory over Afghanistan, thanks to an extraordinary performance by Glenn Maxwell, has solidified their position in the semi-finals. Maxwell unleashed a flurry of powerful shots, steering his team to a nail-biting win alongside skipper Pat Cummins.
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Afghanistan, on the other hand, will face South Africa in their last group-stage match on November 10. If Afghanistan manages to defeat the Proteas, they will join Pakistan and New Zealand with 10 points each. However, Afghanistan’s current negative net run rate (NRR) poses a significant hurdle for their semi-final aspirations, necessitating a resounding victory over South Africa.
As it stands, Pakistan’s main competition for the semi-final spot is New Zealand. New Zealand currently holds the fifth position with an NRR of 0.398, while Pakistan trails behind in the sixth position with an NRR of 0.036.
The qualification scenario shapes up as follows:
- If New Zealand defeats Sri Lanka by 50 runs, Pakistan must overcome England by a whopping 180 runs to secure their semi-final spot.
- In the event of New Zealand winning by just 1 run against Sri Lanka, Pakistan’s target against England increases to 131 runs.
- If Sri Lanka defeats New Zealand, Pakistan’s path to the semi-finals becomes more straightforward as they need a victory over England.
- In case the match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand is affected by rain, Pakistan will only need to win against England to qualify.
The stage is set for a dramatic conclusion to the group stage, and cricket enthusiasts worldwide will be eagerly watching the outcomes of these crucial matches. Pakistan’s hopes are now pinned on Sri Lanka’s performance, and the scenario remains tense as they chase their dream of reaching the World Cup semi-finals.