Pakistan lost their second game of the 2022 T20 World Cup on Thursday, going down by one run to Zimbabwe. However, they still have a mathematical chance of advancing to the tournament’s semifinals.
Pakistan were on the receiving end of one of the greatest knocks in T20 history courtesy of Virat Kohli in their tournament opener, who took India home from an impossible situation with 48 were needed off the last three overs. Such a narrow margin of loss in both of their first two games puts them in a tricky position as far as qualification for the next stage of the competition is concerned, reducing their T20 odds, but they still have a chance.
How Pakistan can still qualify
Pakistan are yet to open their winning account in the tournament, and are currently placed fifth on the Group 2 table with a net run rate of -0.050. Only the Netherlands are below them with a NRR of -1.625. Pakistan’s remaining games are against the Netherlands (Perth), Bangladesh (Adelaide) and South Africa (Sydney). Needless to say, they have to win all of their remaining games to even be in contention of making the semifinal.
However, even that would not be enough and they have to also hope other results go their way. India are expected to go through, with two games against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe along with a match against South Africa still to play. They have two wins in as many games thus far and are well-placed to top the group. Even if India win just one further game, they will have six points (the same as the maximum available for Pakistan) and can edge ahead on net run rate.
If there are no other washouts in the group, Babar Azam’s team can only qualify if South Africa win no more than one more match. Temba Bavuma’s team currently have three points (a win and a washout). Two wins will take the Proteas to seven points, which will be above what Pakistan can achieve from their remaining fixtures.
Zimbabwe too have a realistic chance of making the cut. Like South Africa, they have three points, one from the washout against the Proteas. They are yet to play India, Netherlands and Bangladesh, and two more wins will see them reach seven points, which again will be above what Pakistan can get.
Bangladesh and Netherlands are not yet mathematically ruled out but, realistically, are not in the race.
In short, for Pakistan to have any hope of qualification, they have to win all three remaining games and hope South Africa and Zimbabwe win only one more game each.
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