• Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman celebrates after reaching his century in the World Cup clash against New Zealand in Bangalore on November 4, 2023. Pakistand won the game by 21 runs via the DLS Method. AFP
    Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman celebrates after reaching his century in the World Cup clash against New Zealand in Bangalore on November 4, 2023. Pakistand won the game by 21 runs via the DLS Method. AFP
  • A member of ground staff covers the pitch as rain stops play. AFP
    A member of ground staff covers the pitch as rain stops play. AFP
  • An announcement is displayed on a big screen after Pakistan won the match against New Zealand in Bengaluru. AP
    An announcement is displayed on a big screen after Pakistan won the match against New Zealand in Bengaluru. AP
  • Pakistan's captain Babar Azam hits a boundary. AP
    Pakistan's captain Babar Azam hits a boundary. AP
  • Pakistan's captain Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman run between the wickets. AP
    Pakistan's captain Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman run between the wickets. AP
  • New Zealand's Tim Southee celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique. AFP
    New Zealand's Tim Southee celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique. AFP
  • Spectators watch the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup one-day international match between New Zealand and Pakistan at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. AFP
    Spectators watch the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup one-day international match between New Zealand and Pakistan at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. AFP
  • New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra loses his bat after playing a shot. AFP
    New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra loses his bat after playing a shot. AFP
  • New Zealand's Mark Chapman plays a shot. AP
    New Zealand's Mark Chapman plays a shot. AP
  • Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf in action. Reuters
    Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf in action. Reuters
  • Pakistan Abdullah Shafique attempts to stop the ball as New Zealand batter Mark Chapman sets off for a run. AP
    Pakistan Abdullah Shafique attempts to stop the ball as New Zealand batter Mark Chapman sets off for a run. AP

Can Pakistan still qualify for the Cricket World Cup semi-finals?


Steve Luckings
  • English
  • Arabic

New Zealand's thrashing of Sri Lanka on Thursday has given Pakistan an uphill task to qualify for the Cricket World Cup semi-finals.

The Black Caps' five-wicket win in Bengalaru took them to 10 points, two ahead of Pakistan and Afghanistan, into fourth place.

Pakistan face holders England in Kolkata on Saturday, their final group game, but an inferior run rate to New Zealand leaves Babar Azam's men with a mountain to climb to join India, South Africa and Australia in the last four.

What do Pakistan need to do?

New Zealand have a net run rate of 0.74 having played all their group games while Pakistan's is 0.36.

For Pakistan to reach 0.75 they need to beat England by 287 or 288 runs if they bat first.

If Pakistan are put into bowl, the men in green need to chase the target with 284 deliveries to spare.

The fourth placed team in the points table will face India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Can Afghanistan still qualify for the semi-finals?

In theory, yes. But it will require the Afghans beating already-qualified South Africa by a mammoth score in their final match.

Afghanistan sit level with Pakistan on eight points but an inferior net run rate (-338) to both Pakistan and New Zealand means they will have to beat the Proteas by more than 438 runs on Friday and hope that Pakistan lose their game to England the following day.

Updated: November 10, 2023, 4:44 AM