What needs to happen for an India vs Pakistan semi-final at World Cup 2023

ICC World Cup 2023 is progressing into its knockout stages as the group stages matches are almost over. England, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Netherlands are out of the semi-final race.

The contest is down to six teams now. India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

Out of these, India, Australia, and South Africa are mostly expected to make it to the semis with a tight contest between New Zealand and Pakistan for the fourth contender.

This makes a very exciting probability of whether there can be yet another India-Pakistan clash in the World Cup.

What are the chances?

• After India defeated South Africa on November 5 and retained the number 1 spot, and with Pakistan's victory over New Zealand, the possibility of an India-Pakistan semi-final clash is now even stronger, setting the stage for a potential encounter on November 15

• According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), the top team on the points table will meet the fourth team at the table to meet at the semi-final.
• So, India’s next match is against Netherlands, with the Men in Blue expected to win it and stay in the number 1 spot.
• Pakistan, on the other hand, if they make it to the semi-final, will most probably be the fourth team.
• So, India vs Pakistan can happen at the Wankhede stadium on November 15.
• But for that to happen, Pakistan will have to win the next match, and New Zealand and Afghanistan must lose their matches.

  

   

How India and Pakistan can meet in World Cup semis

• If Pakistan win their next match against England, and New Zealand lose the match to Sri Lanka, then Pakistan can reach the number 4 spot with 10 points on the table.

• But if New Zealand beat Sri Lanka and Pakistan also beat England, then the contest would be down to the net-run-rate in which NZ might have an upper hand.

• In that case, Pakistan would need to win their last group game against England with a considerable margin.

• Since that would be the penultimate game of the group stages match, Pakistan will have exact numbers in hand, to reach, in order for them to qualify for the semis.

• Pakistan would also need Afghanistan to lose their next two matches, as they also have 8 points.

• Afghanistan are also at the number sixth position on the table. But Hashmatullah Shahidi’s brigade faces formidable opponents Australia and South Africa in their next ventures.

• It would be difficult for Afghanistan to triumph over SA and Australia consecutively. And If Pakistan want to face India in the semis, they must that the Afghanistan team loses both these games.

• Australia, on the other hand, are expected to be the third team to stay on the points table, as they are expected to win the next two games against Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

• In short, the fourth team will be decided on November 12 when Pakistan face England in a do-or-die match.

• If Pakistan lose, New Zealand will make it to the semis and face India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.