Pakistan is preparing up for a make-or-break meeting against England in the ICC World Cup 2023, marking the culmination of the league stage. The position has become more tricky for Pakistan due to New Zealand’s triumph over Sri Lanka, adding a degree of complexity to their trip to the semi-finals.
Following New Zealand’s triumph against Sri Lanka, Pakistan now faces a more difficult path to the semi-finals. Securing a berth demands a decisive win over England, with previous form discussions cast aside. Captain Babar Azam emanates confidence and positivity as the team gears up for this critical clash.
During the press conference, Babar displayed assurance while receiving questions from the media regarding the hard circumstances of reaching the semi-finals versus England. The right-handed hitter underlined the team’s adherence to a well-thought-out game plan. He stressed the critical role of Fakhar Zaman’s extended presence at the crease, stating that it might considerably boost Pakistan’s chances of attaining the requisite Net Run Rate target.
“We do have planning going into the game. It is not as if you go all guns blazing from the start itself. We need to plan accordingly as to how the first 10 overs need to be played and then the next 20 overs. We need to achieve those targets first, which includes partnerships and knowing which player has to spend ample amount of time in the middle. Having said that, if you ask me, if Fakhar stays for 20-30 overs we can achieve whatever we are being asked to,” Babar said during the Press Conference.
Pakistan’s Qualification Scenario For The Semi-final of World Cup 2023
New Zealand’s impressive five-wicket triumph over Sri Lanka has made Pakistan’s journey to the semi-finals more intricate, widening the gap between the Kiwis and the rest. While Pakistan can equal New Zealand’s 10 points, their net run rate poses a hurdle. New Zealand boasts a net run rate of 0.74, and for Pakistan to surpass that, they must win by a margin of 287 runs or more when batting first. If bowling first, they need to chase the target with 284 deliveries to spare.
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In the case of Pakistan chasing, the scenarios are speculative, and the required deliveries will vary depending on the runs conceded. The real opportunity for Pakistan lies in establishing a commanding target by batting first, ideally reaching a score of 400. Following that, they need to restrict England to just 112 runs. This ambitious feat would propel Pakistan’s Net Run Rate above New Zealand’s. The team ranked fourth in the points table will face India in the first semi-final of the WC 2023 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, except for Pakistan, who will play at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata if they secure a spot.
