New Delhi, November 11: New Zealand, thanks to their superior net run rate, are set to book a place in the World Cup 2023 semi-finals against India in Mumbai on November 15, unless Pakistan achieves a near-impossible feat against England. . Pakistan captain Babar Azam highlighted Fakhar Zaman as a key player in their bid to achieve a huge margin of victory in their last group-stage match against England at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday.
As things stand, New Zealand, with 10 points from 9 matches, are set for a semi-final clash against India on the back of their high net run rate, unless Pakistan pulls off a miraculous performance.
To change this scenario, Pakistan has a tough task of winning the toss and batting first. To have a real chance, they would need to secure a victory margin of 287 or 288 runs, which would require a score of over 400. For example, to score 400, England would have to be bowled out for 112 runs. Even if their score is 300, Pakistan will do this. England need to be restricted to their historically lowest total in cricket, which is 13.
If Pakistan are to bowl first, the odds appear insurmountable. Even after bowling out England for 100, they would have to chase the target in just 2.5 overs, i.e. 283 balls to win.
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On the eve of the important match, Babar acknowledged the challenging equations facing his team. Emphasizing the need for strategic planning, he said, “It is in our mind and we will try to do it. We will try to execute our plans and how to achieve the target.” Babar stressed the importance of a systematic approach, focusing on how to approach specific stages of the game, including partnerships and individual player contributions. Specifically, he identified Fakhar Zaman, Rizwan and Iftikhar as key players in his strategic plan to accomplish this impossible task.
