Only miracles can now save Pakistan and Afghanistan in their final group matches beyond prayers and collective divisions to knock New Zealand out of the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup 2023.
Pakistan will have to win against England by 287 runs, only then will their chances for the semi-finals increase. Afghanistan will need an even bigger and somewhat impossible margin of over 400 runs to play in the semi-finals.
Pakistan will face a tough match against England on Saturday to reach the semi-finals.
There are only two scenarios left for Pakistan. He scored 400 runs in the stipulated 50 overs against England while bowling out the English team for just 112 runs in reply.
Otherwise, if England bat first, Pakistan will have to achieve the target in 284 balls or 47.2 overs first i.e. in just less than three overs. In both cases, these goals seem impossible.
However, captain Babar Azam believes that Pakistan can score 400 if they play with pride.
Afghanistan will try to make it to the semi-finals of the World Cup by defeating South Africa today in Ahmedabad.
Assuming they bat first and score 300, Pakistan would need to beat England by 287 runs to move into the top four
Afghanistan need to win by 438 runs to go past New Zealand’s net run rate #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/GCtyXMSRBZ
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 9, 2023
Pakistan and Afghanistan not only have to win their matches but also have to cross the run rate which seems impossible, but the people of Pakistan and the media are still not letting go of hope in the ongoing World Cup.
England captain Jos Buttler, on the other hand, has said that the team is keen to ‘put things right’ after a disappointing World Cup campaign and is determined to finish in the top eight at the 2025 Champions Trophy.
The 2019 champions recorded a 160-run win over the Netherlands in Pune on Wednesday and ended a five-match losing streak to move up to seventh place with four points.
“We have not performed the way we should have done throughout the tour and we would like to leave India with a decent performance,” Buttler told reporters. That is, by winning their last match against Pakistan.
‘I think everyone is disappointed, but the boys are working hard…which shows determination and a desire to put things right.’
New Zealand completed the group stage with victory where they started with a defeat to defending champions England, while the other two teams in the race for the semi-finals, Pakistan and Afghanistan, still have one more match to play.
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In the absence of a miracle, the Kiwis face unbeaten India in Mumbai next Wednesday, while South Africa take on Australia 24 hours later in Kolkata.
New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult says ahead of the expected semi-final that there is nothing bigger than facing India in front of 1.5 billion people.
Left-arm fast bowler Boult took three wickets for 37 runs and was instrumental in his side’s five-wicket win over Sri Lanka that ensured their place in the last four.
Veteran fast bowler Boult said that he will be very clear about how he will tackle this match.
‘I think there will be a lot of excitement and potential for this challenge. It’s no bigger than playing against India in front of 1.5 billion people.’
New Zealand, runners-up in the last two World Cups, has a 5-4 lead over India in the tournament matches.
They defeated India in the 2019 semi-final.
“I can’t talk about what they’re thinking but from our point of view to play the World Cup in India and to play against the host nation, a team that’s playing well,” added the 34-year-old Bolt. , you can’t script better than this.
Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India have been unbeaten in the 10-team table so far.
India, who last won the World Cup in 2011, faced a tough challenge from the Kiwis in the league match played in Dharamsala, which they won by four wickets.
Bolt said that the conditions at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will be different and the pressure will be on the home team.
He said that it is difficult to comment on the conditions at Wankhede but history shows that it is a good wicket.
Boult has taken 50 wickets to join the elite group including Glenn McGrath, Muttiah Muralitharan, Mitchell Starc, Lasith Malinga and Wasim Akram.
“Very proud, it’s not something I was ever aiming for, but everyone loves World Cup cricket,” Bolt said.
Cricket matches between England and Pakistan have often been acrimonious, with incidents such as umpiring, allegations of ball-tampering, canceled matches, court cases and spot-fixing scandals.
#World #Cup #praying #Pakistan #hoping #miracles
2024-09-23 17:02:38
