T20 World Cup semi-final: Pakistan’s qualification chances slip, but they can still qualify for semi-finals | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Pakistan on Sunday achieved one of the main criteria to stay in the race for the semi-finals of the ongoing T20 World Cup in Australia – a win against the The Netherlands. But all the other results did not go in their favour, reducing their chances and leaving them in a difficult spot.
Their fate still depends on the outcome of other matches as they remain in fifth position in the six-team Group 2, ahead of only the Netherlands. A cracking 6-wicket win against the Dutch opened their account in the tournament on Sunday, but South Africa‘s victory over India made the route to the knockout stage more difficult for them.
Pakistan have two matches left – against South Africa and Bangladesh – and they need two big wins to not only get 6 points but to pump up their Net Run Rate (NRR), which could ultimately come into play come. Their current NRR, after 3 matches, stands at 0.765
Now the battle for a place in the semi-final is more with arch-rivals India than South Africa for Pakistan, with the Proteas sitting at the top of the Group 2 standings with 5 points. The Proteas need just one win from their remaining two games to advance to the next stage and they have a relatively easy game against minnows Netherlands. Pakistan now need India to lose one of their remaining two matches so that the 2007 champions finish on 6 points, the same as Pakistan (provided they win their next two matches), and NRR come into play.
With South Africa already having one foot in the next stage of the tournament, Pakistan’s chances have dropped significantly, but they are not out yet and the race for second place in the group is now mostly with India, although Bangladesh also is on 4. points, same as the Men in Blue. From India’s perspective their next match against the Bangla Tigers will be a very important one.

Pakistan cricketers. (AFP Photo)
(All statistics in this article are updated until the end of October 30 matches)
How the teams in Group 2 stand after three games each:
* South Africa jumped to the top of the group with five points after their victory against India on Sunday. They now have two wins (against India and Bangladesh) and a ‘no result’ against Zimbabwe, which gave them 1 point.
* India dropped to second in the points table after their defeat against South Africa. They now have four points from three games — two wins (against Pakistan and the Netherlands) and a loss (against SA).
* Bangladesh climbed to third after its narrow victory against Zimbabwe on Sunday. They also have four points from three matches and are only behind India on NRR.
* Zimbabwe are now fourth with three points after losing to Bangladesh. They have a win (against Pakistan), a no result (against SA) and a loss (against Bangladesh).
* Pakistan opened their points account with a win against the Netherlands, and are in fifth place with two points from three matches.
* The Netherlands have zero points after losing all three matches so far.

Pakistan cricketers. (AFP Photo)
How Pakistan can advance to the semi-finals:
* The most important criteria still remains the same — big wins in the remaining two games, which will bring their tally to 6 points. It may or may not be enough for them in the end.
* For Pak to qualify, India must lose one of their two remaining matches, which would leave them on 6 points, the same as Pakistan. Then NRR will come into play. India have matches against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Pak will also keep one eye on the Bangla Tigers.
* South Africa must lose both of their remaining two games, an unlikely scenario as they have one game against minnows Netherlands and the other against Pakistan. One win from the two will take the Proteas to 7 points, which should be enough to book a semi-final place.
* Bangladesh, on 4 points, also need to lose both their remaining two matches for Pak to have a chance. They now have games left – against India and Pakistan – both of which also need wins to stay in the semi-finals. A win against India will take Bangladesh to 6 points, the same as Pakistan (if Pak win their remaining two matches).
* Zimbabwe, who are on 3 points, must lose one of their remaining two matches. Two wins will take them to 7 points, ahead of Pakistan (provided Pak win both their remaining matches), but one win will leave them on 5 points. They have matches against the Netherlands and India.
As is clear, Pakistan’s fate mainly depends on many other results going in their favour. The 2009 champions, as things stand, may find it extremely difficult to reach the semi-finals. No wonder, then, that so many former Pakistan players have expressed their concerns and disappointment over team selection and quality of cricket played by the Men in Green so far.