Bengaluru, Nov 9 – The race for the fourth and final spot in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup semifinals intensifies as New Zealand, Pakistan, and Afghanistan vie for the coveted position. With Australia, India, and South Africa securing their places in the knockout stages, the battle for the last spot is heating up.
As it stands, New Zealand currently holds the fourth position, but only marginally ahead of Pakistan and Afghanistan in net run rate. Netherlands has been eliminated from the semifinals race following their recent loss to England.
The scenarios for qualification are as follows:
- New Zealand’s Path: Win today’s match against Sri Lanka to secure 10 points with a higher run rate than Pakistan and Afghanistan, which could also finish on 10 points. If New Zealand loses, they can still qualify if both Pakistan and Afghanistan lose their remaining matches, provided New Zealand maintains a higher net run rate than these teams and Netherlands.
- Pakistan’s Path: Win their last match against England on November 11 and finish with a higher net run rate than New Zealand and Afghanistan, both potentially ending with 10 points. If Pakistan loses to England, they can still qualify if both New Zealand and Afghanistan lose their remaining matches, with Pakistan maintaining a superior net run rate.
- Afghanistan’s Path: Win their last match against South Africa to secure 10 points and a higher net run rate than New Zealand and Pakistan. In case of a loss, Afghanistan can still qualify if both New Zealand and Pakistan lose their remaining matches, with Afghanistan maintaining a superior net run rate.
The race for the final semifinal spot promises a nail-biting finish, with each team eyeing a strategic combination of victories and net run rates to advance in the tournament.
