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After New Zealand’s convincing win over Sri Lanka, the race for the fourth spot in the ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final is nearly settled, with the Black Caps inching closer to securing their berth. Notably, New Zealand not only strengthened their chances of making it to the semis, but also made it extremely challenging for both Afghanistan and Pakistan to make the cut. With 10 points for New Zealand, the road for the other two contenders, Afghanistan and Pakistan, has become significantly steeper.
Almost impossible task for Pakistan
New Zealand’s net run rate (NRR) surge poses a formidable obstacle for Pakistan and Afghanistan, making it highly improbable for them to qualify even if they both manage to accumulate 10 points.
As the scenario unfolds, Pakistan are now confronted with an almost insurmountable challenge. To make it to the semi-finals, they must either beat England by a minimum of 280 runs or successfully chase down any target given to them in under five overs.
Also READ: “Bas nikal gayi hawa”: Fans trend ‘Qudrat Ka Nizam’ to troll Pakistan after New Zealand’s win dents their semifinal hopes – CWC 2023
Wasim Akram’s witty take on Pakistan’s qualification hopes
Regarding Pakistan’s chances, former captain and bowling legend Wasim Akram injected humor into the situation, acknowledging the practical difficulty for the Men in Green.
In a recent interview on ‘A Sports,’ Akram shared a cheeky and humorous perspective on Pakistan’s qualification hopes. Acknowledging the mathematical possibility, he quipped, “Pakistan should bat first against England and post runs, then lock the England team in the dressing room and get them timed out.”
Notably, the comment alluded to the infamous ‘timed out’ dismissal of Angelo Mathews by Shakib Al Hasan against Bangladesh in Delhi, highlighting the tongue-in-cheek nature of Akram’s take on Pakistan’s slim chances.
So far, India, South Africa and Australia have qualified for the semi-final of the global showpiece event.
