Friday 27 / February / 2026
Pakistan's hopes of progressing to the semi-finals now rest on a very narrow margin. With England already having secured their place in the next round, Pakistan finds themselves in a position where they no longer have full control over their own destiny. To keep their tournament dreams alive, they must first rely on England to defeat New Zealand in their upcoming match.
The Mathematical Challenge Remaining For Pakistan
Should England beat New Zealand, the door to the semi-finals remains slightly ajar for Pakistan, provided they also secure a convincing win against Sri Lanka in their final group fixture. In this scenario, both Pakistan and New Zealand would finish the Super Eight stage level on three points. Qualification would then be decided by Net Run Rate, which is currently unfavourable for Pakistan.
Why Net Run Rate Is The Deciding Factor
The scale of the task facing the team is substantial. If England defeat New Zealand, Pakistan must not only win their own match but also do so by a significant enough margin to overtake New Zealand’s superior Net Run Rate. The exact requirement will depend on the margin of England's victory over New Zealand. Essentially, Pakistan requires a large combined swing in their favour across these two matches to make up the deficit. Any other result, such as a New Zealand win or a wash-out in the England versus New Zealand fixture, would result in immediate elimination for Pakistan.
Credit: Espncricinfo
