Bengaluru: New Zealand, Pakistan and Afghanistan remain in the race for the fourth and final place in the knockout stages at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Here are the possibilities of the teams that can qualify for a semifinal spot in the remaining matches.
The race for a place in the knockout stages is going down to the wire with only one spot still up for grabs after Australia joined tournament hosts India and second-placed South Africa in locking in a top-four finish.
New Zealand currently sit in the critical fourth place but are only ahead of Pakistan and Afghanistan on net run rate. Netherlands have bowed out of the semifinals race following their loss to England.
Bangladesh was the first team to have been knocked out, followed by England, Sri Lanka and Netherlands in the tournament.
The path for New Zealand to qualify is to win today’s match against Sri Lanka and finish with 10 points along with a higher run rate than Pakistan and Afghanistan, which can also finish on 10 points.
And if New Zealand loses to Sri Lanka and end up with 8 points, then their qualification to the semifinals would be possible if Pakistan and Afghanistan lose their remaining matches, and finish with a higher net run rate than those two teams and Netherlands that can also finish on 8 points.
The path for Pakistan to qualify is to win their last match against England on November 11, and finish with a higher net run rate than the New Zealand and Afghanistan, which can also finish on 10 points.
And if they lose their match against England, then they will end up with 8 points and hope New Zealand and Afghanistan both lose their remaining matches, and finish with a higher net run rate than those two teams as well as Netherlands that can also finish on 8 points.
For Afghanistan to qualify is to win their last match against South Africa tomorrow and finish with 10 points, and finish with a higher net run rate than New Zealand and Pakistan, which can also finish on 10 points.
If they lose their remaining matches, they will finish at 8 points, and then hope New Zealand and Pakistan lose their remaining matches, and finish with a higher net run rate than those two teams.
