• By Manik Sharma
  • Fri, 03 Nov 2023 12:12 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 has reached a crucial juncture, with India already booking their spot in the semi-finals. While India's dominance remains unblemished, the race for the remaining three knockout stage positions is as fierce as ever.

With Bangladesh out of the contention and England, Sri Lanka, and Netherlands hanging on by a thread, the final 10 days of the group stage are set to serve as a thrilling spectacle for both spectators and fans.

 

Qualification Scenarios For Teams Favourite To Make Semi-final Cut:

 

1. New Zealand:

- With 4 wins and 3 losses, New Zealand stands with a net run rate of +0.484.
- Their upcoming matches are against Pakistan on 4th November and Sri Lanka on 9th November.

Path to qualification:

New Zealand's key to the semi-finals is to win both of their remaining matches while ensuring their net run rate surpasses at least one of the three other teams (South Africa, Australia, and Afghanistan) that can also reach 12 points.

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2. Australia:

- Australia has secured 4 wins and 2 losses with a net run rate of +0.970.
- They face England on 4th November, Afghanistan on 7th November, and Bangladesh on 11th November.

Path to qualification:

Australia's path to the semi-finals is to triumph in all three remaining matches, accumulating 14 points and a guaranteed qualification. Winning at least two of the three matches and securing a superior net run rate to at least one of the three other teams (South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan) can also secure their spot.

Alternatively, winning one of the three matches while ensuring a better net run rate than other teams with a potential 10 points can lead to qualification. Australia can still go through if they lose all their matches, but then they have to completely rely on other results, where no more than one team crosses the eight points barrier and has lower NRR than Australia.

3. Pakistan:

- Pakistan boasts 3 wins and 4 losses, with a net run rate of -0.024.
- Their remaining matches are against New Zealand on 4th November and England on 11th November.

Path to qualification:

To secure a semi-final spot, Pakistan must win both of their remaining matches and maintain a superior net run rate compared to other teams potentially finishing with 10 points. Alternatively, if they win one of two remaining matches, it requires Australia to lose all three remaining matches, New Zealand to lose two remaining matches, Afghanistan to lose at least two of their three remaining matches, and Pakistan must have a better net run rate than teams aiming for 8 points.

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4. Afghanistan:

- Afghanistan has 3 wins and 3 losses, with a net run rate of -0.718.
- They will face Netherlands on 3rd November, Australia on 7th November, and South Africa on 10th November.

Path to qualification:

Afghanistan's journey to the semi-finals entails winning at least one and ideally all three remaining matches to accumulate as many as 12 points. Additionally, they need to significantly enhance their net run rate to overtake teams like New Zealand, Australia, and others with an equal number of points.