ISLAMABAD: The journey of Men in Green in the ICC ODI cricket World Cup 2023 has taken a chaotic turn after a disheartening loss to Afghanistan on Tuesday, marking their third consecutive defeat in the tournament.
With just two wins and three losses in their five contests so far, Pakistan now find themselves in a risky position as they look ahead to their remaining fixtures.
The upcoming Pakistan matches against South Africa, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and England will be of crucial significance. Here we discuss the scenarios that could determine Pakistan’s fate in the tournament.
Upcoming challenges
October 26 (Friday): Pakistan vs South Africa at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
October 31 (Tuesday): Pakistan vs Bangladesh at Eden Gardens, Kolkata
November 4 (Saturday): Pakistan vs New Zealand at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
November 11 (Saturday): Pakistan vs England at Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Future scenarios
Pakistan win all matches
Even if Pakistan manages to win all of their remaining group-stage matches, they will gather a total of 12 points.
However, as of October 23, India and New Zealand have already earned 10 and eight points, respectively. While this would push Pakistan closer to qualification, both India and New Zealand would still be relying on the outcomes of other matches, particularly those involving Australia.
If Pak lose one
A single defeat in the remaining contests could pose a substantial risk to Pakistan’s chances of advancing to semi-finals.
Losing to either South Africa or New Zealand would put these teams above Pakistan on the points table. A loss to England or Bangladesh would also deal a significant blow to Pakistan’s prospects.
If Pak loses more than one
If Pakistan loses more than one of their remaining four games, their hopes of reaching the semifinals would be very, very limited, and they may find themselves out of the qualification race.
If Australia win all matches
If Pakistan miraculously win all their remaining contests, their fate would still be intertwined with Australia’s performance. As of October 23, Australia has one game in hand, and if they win all five of their remaining matches, they would earn a place in the semifinals ahead of Pakistan.
Points required for Pakistan to reach semis
To secure a berth in the semifinals, Pakistan must aim for the maximum 12 points at the group stage.
History has also shown that 12 points can be enough for a team to reach the semifinals, as was in the 2019 World Cup. The Green Shirts now find a high-stakes journey ahead, with no room for error in their quest for a place in the semifinals.
