ODI World Cup 2023: Can the semifinal be India vs Pakistan? Here are the odds
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With India guaranteed a place in the semifinals as league toppers and South Africa and Australia to finish in second and third place, Pakistan need to finish fourth in the league standings. As things stand, Pakistan are fifth while New Zealand stand in pole position in the fourth spot. Afghanistan are also in the race to reach the last four, but will need favours from other sides.
The race for the semifinals of the ODI World Cup is heating up with one spot still up for grabs as Pakistan, New Zealand and Afghanistan scramble to reach the promised land. Three teams including hosts India have booked their place in the last four while South Africa and Australia are also in the hunt for glory. The latter two are all set to face in one semifinal while India are waiting to know who they could face to reach the summit clash.
However, fans across the world are hoping for India vs Pakistan clash in the semifinal.
Australia lock up a semi-final spot 🔒
— ICC (@ICC) November 8, 2023
One place still remains. Who can reach the final four? 📲 https://t.co/OHY3825MLS#CWC23 pic.twitter.com/Xn93fmTBVN
What is the current scenario?
With India guaranteed a place in the semifinals as league toppers, and South Africa and Australia to finish in second and third place, Pakistan need to finish fourth.
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As things stand, Pakistan are fifth in the league standings while New Zealand are in the fourth spot. Afghanistan are also in the race to reach the last four but will need favours from other sides.
Currently all the three teams are locked on same number points (eight points from eight matches) and are separated by Net Run Rate (NRR).
New Zealand are on +0.398 while Pakistan and Afghanistan are on +0.036 and -0.338 respectively.
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How can India vs Pakistan take place in semifinals?
For Pakistan to finish fourth, they will have to better the result of New Zealand and match the result of Aghanistan in the final league match.
In case New Zealand win by even one run, Pakistan will have to win by 131 runs or in 35 overs to better their NRR.
However, a defeat for New Zealand will see them needing to match Afghanistan’s result in the final league match.
However, the task won’t be straightforward as Babar Azam’s men take on England who are buying for a place in the 2025 Champions Trophy with qualification up for stake.
On the other hand, Afghanistan will play South Africa, having suffered a demoralising defeat to Australia where Glenn Maxwell was the star of the show.
Pakistan’s failure to win against England could still see them make the last four provided both New Zealand and Afghanistan lose by big margins and end with worse NRR.
However, that possibility could be ruled out, considering New Zealand are dominating Sri Lanka in their final league match.
At the time of writing, bowling first, the Kiwis have reduced Sri Lanka to 114/8 and are all set for a big win which could see them book their place in the last four.
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