After horrid outcomes in their opening games of Twenty20 World Cup 2024, strong teams like Pakistan, England and New Zealand find it hard to enter the Super 8, the next stage of the tournament.
Discussing some scenarios left for the teams to save their spots in the tournament.
Pakistan Qualification Scenario
Pakistan was on the brink of exit, had they not won against Canada in the Group stage match on June 11. Though, they still depend on the result of other teams in the Group A, with 15 balls spared, their net run rate has improved to 0.191.
Next impediment is Ireland, beating them can almost make their qualification for next stage certain. Also USA has to lose their remaining matches, only such scenario can save the Pakistan from getting out of the T20 World Cup 2024 at an early stage.
The less scores earned has made result margins small. If USA loses the remaining two matches by a combined margin of ten runs (with scores of 140 by the team batting first), any margin will be enough for Pakistan to win as long as they score at least 112 batting first.
For Pakistan, even if the above scenario works, will be on tenterhooks about the weather forecast, predicting rain through the week in Lauderhill. With either USA getting a single point or Pakistan dropping a point due to washout, will be out of the World Cup.
England Qualification Scenario
Like Pakistan in Group A, England finds itself in a precarious position in Group B, with only ODI World Cup 2023 winner, Australia sitting comfortably.
However they have much lesser NRR, with Scotland at 2.164 and England at -1.8, they have to do a lot more work.
The possible strategy for England is that they have to win their last two matches and also pin hopes on Australia to defeat Scotland on June 15. Still, deficient on NRR will loom as a troubling factor for England as Scotland sparing 41 balls against Oman in their win has earned them a decent NRR.
To lead in the NRR, England may wish Scotland to lose to Australia by at least 20 runs and win their last games against Oman and Namibia, by a combined margin of at least 94 runs.
Also England cannot afford any washout, losing opportunity to raise themselves on points table of Group B. Another washout would mean knock out from the tournament.
New Zealand Qualification Scenario
In Group C, New Zealand finds itself in a more weak position than Pakistan and England in their groups.
As Afghans rampaged Kiwis by huge margin of 84 runs meaning their NRR is wilting at -4.2.
Afghanistan, after winning with big scores secure their run rate to 5.225. Also the host West Indies and Afghanistan have beaten Uganda by over 120 runs.
New Zealand needs to roll more runs in their remaining matches and win them of course to increase their NRR. First they will have to beat West Indies on Wednesday. In case they lose, West Indies and Afghanistan( winning against PNG, the next day) will be in unbeatable positions. After such condition, Kiwis last two games- against Uganda on Saturday and PNG on Monday, will not matter.
Tabinda Mir is a writer from Kashmir. She is an English Honours graduate and her interests primarily dwell in poetry and sports writing. She likes to cover Cricket as an avid fan. Apart from sports, her other publications include articles, poems and a letter to summer in the book titled, “Under The Summer Skies”.
Also, her leisure time activities include reading novels, poetry, non literary works, philosophies and writing poetry, short stories, articles on diverse themes.
