Can Pakistan still make it to ODI World Cup 2023 semi-finals despite losing to South Africa on Friday? Scenario explained

Pakistan are scheduled to face South Africa in their 6th match of the ongoing 2023 ODI World Cup, which will take place on Friday, October 27 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Pakistani team has delivered a very disappointing performance in the tournament, managing to secure victories in just 2 out of their 5 matches. As a result, they currently occupy the 6th position on the points table.

The Pakistan cricket team that clinched the ODI World Cup in 1992 managed to secure victory in five consecutive matches when their campaign was on the verge of collapse. Similarly, winning four games in a row in 2023 is crucial for Pakistan’s chances of reaching the semifinals. 

However, achieving such a streak will be a challenging task, especially considering that their first opponent in this sequence is South Africa. The Proteas have consistently posted formidable scores of 400+, 399, 382, and 300+ in their five games so far. The strength of their batting lineup has been a prominent talking point of the tournament, making it a significant challenge for Pakistan’s struggling pace attack to contain them.

Following their match against South Africa, Pakistan will have to contend with challenging opponents in the form of Bangladesh, New Zealand, and England. This indicates that the road to the semi-finals will not be easy for them. Their recent defeat to Afghanistan is likely to have been a significant setback for them. However, they now, need to regroup and perform well in their remaining group matches. A strong run rate can be crucial, so winning convincingly will be essential.

Check out Pakistan’s qualifying scenario for the semi-finals

The results of other matches in their group will also impact their chances. If other teams in the group lose key games, it could open a path for Pakistan to secure a semi-final spot. If South Africa defeats Pakistan today, Pakistan will be hoping for several things to secure a spot in the semi-finals. 

First, they will hope that Australia loses to New Zealand in Dharamsala and then loses at least two out of their next three matches. Pakistan would also need to win their remaining three games after the clash with South Africa while maintaining a better Net Run Rate (NRR). It’s important to note that both Sri Lanka and Afghanistan currently have 4 points each, and how their campaigns unfold in the next two matches will also impact Pakistan’s chances. 

As of now, the race for the last spot in the semi-finals is highly competitive. India, South Africa, and New Zealand are likely to stay ahead with a minimum of 8 points after 5 matches. Even if these three teams lose two matches each, they still have the potential to reach 12 points, making it a challenging competition for that final semi-final spot.