The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 has thrown in many surprises in the first two weeks and top teams like finalists, winners, and defending champions struggling to make it to the Super 8 stage is the biggest one of them.
Twenty one matches down the line, 2009 champions Pakistan, 2014 champions Sri Lanka, two-time winners and defending champions England, along with 2021 finalist New Zealand are finding it hard to enter the next stage of the tournament after their horrid outings in T20 World Cup 2024 opening games.
While Pakistan are staring elimination after losing to minnow USA and arch-rival India, Jos Buttler’s men are in precarious situation after their opening game against Scotland was washed out due to rain.
Meanwhile, New Zealand lost their opening game against Afghanistan, thus putting themselves in uncharted territory. While Sri Lanka lost the close games against South Africa and Bangladesh and are almost out of the race unless there is a great turnaround
How can Pakistan still make it to T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8?
When they faced arch-rivals India in New York City, Pakistan had the golden opportunity to wash away the sins of losing to associate nation USA in a Super Over in their tournament opener in Texas. The bowlers gave them a perfect platform by bowling India out for 119 in 19 overs.
However, no one in their wildest dreams would have thought that after being 80/3, needing 40 off the remaining 36 balls with seven wickets in hand, Pakistan would lose by six runs.
Pakistan Super 8 Qualification scenarios
Pakistan have zero points from two games. Babar Azam’s men need to win their two matches to even have a chance to qualify for the Super 8 round.
Also, Men In Green need to win their remaining two matches with big margin. However, this is going to be a huge task for them, given they have to play on of their two matches in New York, whose wicket has been not upto the T20 standards.
What if Pakistan win their remaining two matches?
Even if Pakistan beat Canada and Ireland by huge margins, they would have to hope that Ireland beat the USA by a handsome margin as Net Run Rate is set to decide the second team for Super 8 from Group A.
Pakistan will also expect that India should beat Canada and the USA with big margins to book a place in Super 8 round.
How can England still qualify for Super 8 in T20 World Cup 2024?
The defending champions had their first game washed out against Scotland. They needed to win against Australia to keep things under their control. However, they lost by a huge margin of 36 runs and now they are struggling to get past the group stage by relying on their own results.
With Scotland beating Oman by a comfortable margin, Jos Buttler’s men now need to beat Oman and Namibia by huge margins and then hope that Australia beats Scotland by a handsome margin as well. It will eventually come down to the net run rate between Scotland and England in the end if the Englishmen win their matches and the Scots lose to Australia.
What are New Zealand’s chances of Super 8 qualification?
With Afghanistan running a rampage against the Kiwis, Group C in the T20 World Cup 2024 is now widely opened. Hosts West Indies have already won their winnable matches against PNG and Uganda and that too with big margins. It will also come down to them holding their nerves against New Zealand and Afghanistan.
New Zealand qualification scenarios for Super 8 round in ICC T20 World Cup 2024
If West Indies beat Afghanistan and New Zealand and Afghanistan beat PNG, then the Kiwis will be knocked out. However, if New Zealand beat West Indies and Afghanistan beat West Indies, then the Windies will be knocked out given that New Zealand manages to beat PNG and Uganda.
What about Sri Lanka and Group D?
Group D, also called the group of death in this World Cup, remains open before the South Africa vs Bangladesh encounter. If the Proteas manage to beat Bangladesh, the likes of Sri Lanka and the Netherlands would breathe easy as they would have a chance to make it to the Super 8.
With South Africa emerging victorious against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka got a lifeline in Group D, which is regarded as a group of death.
Sri Lanka would be hoping to win their remaining two matches with huge margin against the Netherlands and Nepal.
Then the Island nation will be hoping that the Netherlands beat Bangladesh. So even when Bangladesh beats Nepal, three teams in the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh would have two points each and it would come down to the net run rate
Be the first to comment