Pakistan Semifinals Hopes Dwindle After New Zealand’s Win Over Sri Lanka
The 41st ICC World Cup 2023 match saw New Zealand securing a five-wicket victory against Sri Lanka at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, India.
Unfortunately, this crucial win by the Black Caps has made Pakistan’s path to the World Cup semifinals, already challenging, nearly impossible. To keep their hopes alive, Pakistan needs a substantial victory over England in their upcoming match in Kolkata on November 11.
For Pakistan Semifinals dream, they have two scenarios:
1. If Pakistan bats first against England, they must defeat them by a significant margin of 287 runs.
2. If Pakistan bowls first against England, they need to chase down the target with 284 balls to spare, equivalent to just 2.4 overs.
India, South Africa, and Australia have secured their spots in the semifinals. Among the remaining teams — New Zealand, Afghanistan, and Pakistan — New Zealand holds a dominant position, followed by Pakistan, while Afghanistan’s chances are weakened by their negative net run rate (NRR).
The schedule for the remaining World Cup matches includes key fixtures:
- November 10: South Africa vs Afghanistan at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- November 11: Australia vs Bangladesh at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
- November 11: England vs Pakistan at Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- November 12: India vs Netherlands at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
The semifinals are scheduled for November 15 and 16, with the final set for November 19 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.