Pakistan Semi-Final Chances: New Zealand’s big win over Sri Lanka on Thursday (9 November) in the World Cup 2023 dashed Pakistan’s hopes of playing the semi-finals. There is such a huge difference in the net run rate of both the teams that it is no longer in Pakistan’s power to bridge it. Now even the laws of nature cannot help Pakistan. Here only an unprecedented miracle can give Pakistan a place in the last four. However, the possibility of this is also almost zero.
Three teams had already qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup 2023. There was competition between New Zealand, Pakistan and Afghanistan for the fourth place. Here, New Zealand won its last match to such an extent that the path to the final 4 was completely closed for Afghanistan, while it was almost closed for Pakistan too.
New Zealand managed to register 10 points in its account in this tournament after 5 wins in 9 matches. His net run rate is 0.743. On the other hand, Pakistan team has 8 points and 0.036 net run rate after 4 wins in 8 matches. Here New Zealand has gone far ahead of Pakistan in net run rate. Now Pakistan will not be satisfied with just winning its last match, it will have to register a victory which it has never done.
an unprecedented miracle is needed
In fact, now it can be possible for Pakistan to play in the World Cup semi-finals only if it either beats England by 287 runs in its last match or restricts England to 150 runs and achieves the target in 3.4 overs. Here the second equation is impossible but the first equation is possible. However, the first thing that is important for him is that Pakistan wins the toss. The second task would be that Pakistan should score at least 450 runs on the scoreboard while batting first. And then the third task will be to stop England within 160. All these three tasks are possible but very difficult.
Pakistan will miss the lack of spinners at Eden Gardens
Pakistan team will play its last match at Eden Gardens. The average run rate here in this tournament has been less than 5. In such a situation, it will be impossible for Pakistan to score 450 runs here. Then the spinners have been getting good help at Eden Gardens. But Pakistan does not have a single specialist spinner. In such a situation, it now seems almost impossible for Pakistan to enter the semi-finals.
Even the laws of nature cannot help.
Now the ‘law of nature’ factor is no longer useful for Pakistan. Any kind of weather, rain or cancellation of the match will not benefit Pakistan. Yes, this factor could definitely prove effective for Pakistan in the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka match. If the New Zealand-Sri Lanka match was canceled due to rain, Pakistan would have needed only a win against England but that could not happen.
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World Cup 2023: Top-4 teams could be decided after 41 matches, Pakistan and Afghanistan will play very close semi-finals; View Points Table