CWC 2023: So we have 2 of the 4 semifinal spots locked in, with hosts India and South Africa sealing their passage into the final 4. And last night’s stunning victory over the Proteas has also confirmed India’s position as the top-ranked side, which means that the side finishing 4th will be the ones facing this juggernaut in Mumbai in the first semifinal (unless the side finishing 4th are Pakistan, in which case the semifinals will be held in Kolkata).
However, the battle is still on for the 3rd and 4th spots for the final 4 and there are 4 contenders who have a substantial say in the proceedings as things stand in the grander picture. These sides are Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and this World Cup’s feel-good story Afghanistan.
CWC 2023: So in this article, we will have a look at what each team has to do in order to get those final two spots for the semifinals-
Starting with Australia, who out of the 4 are the most likely to get their qualification secured as quickly as their next game. Their next game is against Afghanistan at the Wankhede in Mumbai and it is increasingly likely that they will get the better of the plucky upstarts in that game. With their Net Run Rate a healthy +0.924, a win will almost certainly guarantee qualification. So Australia have all the things under their control. Win their games and they are through.
Next in line are Australia’s trans-Tasman neighbours New Zealand, fresh from the ignominy of losing a game in which they scored 401. Their loss to Pakistan meant that they have now lost 3 games in a row and are now sweating over their qualification. For New Zealand the equation is very simple- win their game against Sri Lanka and hope for a couple of slip-ups. However, there is the threat of rain in their Sri Lanka game and that could be a huge problem if the game is indeed washed out.
Now we come to the most unpredictable and chaotic team out of the bunch, and that is Pakistan. Somehow they are still alive in this World Cup with 2 straight wins keeping them in contention somehow. However, they are the side with the most complicated route out of all the sides involved. So for starters, it is a no-brainer that in order to stay alive they will have to beat rock-bottom England.
But this is where the caveats start. First they will have to pray that Afghanistan lose both their games. Second, they must hope that Sri Lanka beat New Zealand. If Sri Lanka does not beat NZ, they will have to beat England by a bigger margin than what NZ have managed. For instance, if NZ win by 50 runs, Pakistan will have to win by 180 runs since Pakistan have an inferior NRR compared to NZ.
As far as Afghanistan is concerned, they will have to win both or at least one of their next two matches. But considering that their games are against a rejuvenated Australia at the Wankhede and the already qualified South Africa in Ahmedabad, it will be an uphill battle for them. But expect them to give it their all.
Author Credit- Delwyn Serraro
