There are five games left in the 2023 World Cup league stage, and one semifinal berth is still up for grabs.
After the league round, India will lead the tournament’s points table and play the team ranked fourth in the semifinals. South Africa and Australia are already scheduled to face off in the semifinals, with both teams predicted to finish close behind the Men in Blue.
So, who will the opponents of India be in the last four? Afghanistan, New Zealand, and Pakistan are the three remaining teams. With eight points between the three teams, the Kiwis now have the highest net run rate. But how the league standings is arranged will depend on a few forthcoming games.
These are the final three pivotal games in the 2023 World Cup league stage.
3. South Africa vs Afghanistan – Match 42 of 2023 World Cup
Afghanistan has performed incredibly well thus far in the 2023 World Cup. The only teams to defeat Hashmatullah Shahidi’s men are Australia, New Zealand, and India, with the exception of a heartbreaking defeat to Bangladesh.
But Afghanistan will be disappointed at how they threw away a chance to defeat the Australians. Due to mishandled catches, poor strategic choices, and a career-best inning from Glenn Maxwell, they are currently two games behind the two clubs in the standings and will require a miracle to catch up.
Afghanistan’s net run rate is -0.338, and on Friday, November 10, in Ahmedabad, they must play out of their skins against South Africa. They may have an approximate understanding of what they need to do to increase their net run rate to a sufficient level because they play after Pakistan and before New Zealand.
2. New Zealand vs Sri Lanka – Match 41 of 2023 World Cup
Sadly, New Zealand’s last league match will take place before that of Pakistan and Afghanistan. On Thursday, November 9, they play Sri Lanka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Although there is a strong chance of rain throughout the competition, Bengaluru’s drainage infrastructure should be able to guarantee a result. It’s not a great situation for the Blackcaps to be in, even if they manage to draw with Sri Lanka. They will likely have to wait and see as Pakistan and Afghanistan try to outperform them.
It is game over for the Lankans as they have been eliminated from the competition. Kusal Mendis and his team are just playing for a Champions Trophy place.
New Zealand has lost its past four games, so their form hasn’t been terrific. With a better net run rate (+0.398), the Kiwis will be hoping to avoid elimination from the group stage.
1. England vs Pakistan – Match 44 of 2023 World Cup
On Saturday, November 11, England and Pakistan will face off in the last encounter of the 2023 World Cup league stage at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. In the 2019 edition, the Men in Green were eliminated in the semifinals by New Zealand due to net run rate, and they will want to escape a similar fate this time around.
Pakistan has a net run rate of +0.036, and they are infamous for sneaking out of impossible circumstances just when it appears that they are dead and buried. Babar Azam and company have won their past two matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand, respectively, and may relish the opportunity to play in Kolkata.
England, too, has something riding on the outcome of the match. It would be quite humiliating if the 2019 World Cup victors failed to win the victors Trophy, which is a distinct possibility at this point.