Pakistan and Afghanistan are firmly in contention for a top-four finish, with two spots in the knockout stages still up for grabs. We look at every side’s hopes and qualification pathway at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
The race for two of the spots in the knockout stage of the Cricket World Cup 2023 remains wide open after Pakistan’s crucial win over New Zealand, with undefeated India and big-hitting South Africa clinching places in the semi-finals so far.
South Africa, Australia and New Zealand currently join hosts India in the critical top-four spots at the moment, but there’s plenty still at stake after a fascinating set of results.
Here is what each team needs to do – and the other results that have to go their way – to finish in the top four and qualify for the knockout stage:
1. India
Wins: 7
Losses: 0
Net run rate: +2.102
Still to play: South Africa (5 November), Netherlands (12 November)
Path to qualification:
* Qualified
2. South Africa
Wins: 6
Losses: 1
Net run rate: +2.290
Still to play: India (5 November), Afghanistan (10 November)
Path to qualification:
* Qualified
3. Australia
Wins: 5
Losses: 2
Net run rate: +0.924
Still to play: Afghanistan (7 November), Bangladesh (11 November)
Path to qualification:
* Win both remaining matches to finish on 14 points and be guaranteed qualification
* Win one of their remaining matches to finish on 12 points and be guaranteed qualification
* Lose both of their remaining matches but finish with a better net run rate than at least two of the other teams (New Zealand, Afghanistan, Pakistan) that can also finish on 10 points
4. New Zealand
Wins: 4
Losses: 4
Net run rate: +0.398
Still to play: Sri Lanka (9 November)
Path to qualification:
* Win their remaining match to finish on 10 points, and finish with a better net run rate than at least one of the other teams that can also finish on 10 points
* Finish on eight points with a better net run rate than any of the other teams also on that mark
5. Pakistan
Wins: 4
Losses: 4
Net run rate: +0.036
Still to play: England (11 November)
Path to qualification:
* Win their remaining match to finish on 10 points, and finish with a better net run rate than at least two of the other teams (Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan) that can also finish on 10 points
* Should Pakistan lose their final game against England they will require a significant helping hand from NRR to finish on eight points and in the top four
6. Afghanistan
Wins: 4
Losses: 3
Net run rate: -0.330
Still to play: Australia (7 November), South Africa (10 November)
Path to qualification:
* Win their two remaining matches to finish on 12 points and be guaranteed qualification
* Win one of their two remaining matches to finish on 10 points, and finish with a better net run rate than at least two of the other teams (Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan) that can also finish on 10 points
7. Sri Lanka
Wins: 2
Losses: 4
Net run rate: -1.162
Still to play: Bangladesh (6 November), New Zealand (9 November)
Path to qualification:
* Win two remaining matches to finish on eight points, hope New Zealand, Pakistan, and Afghanistan lose their remaining matches, and then finish with a higher net run rate than the other teams on eight points
8. Netherlands
Wins: 2
Losses: 5
Net run rate: -1.398
Still to play: England (8 November), India (12 November)
Path to qualification:
* Win two remaining matches to finish on eight points, hope New Zealand, Pakistan, and Afghanistan lose their remaining matches, and then finish with a higher net run rate than the other teams on eight points
9. Bangladesh
Wins: 1
Losses: 6
Net run rate: -1.446
Still to play: Sri Lanka (6 November), Australia (11 November)
Path to qualification:
* Can not qualify for knockout stage
10. England
Wins: 1
Losses: 6
Net run rate: -1.504
Still to play: Netherlands (8 November), Pakistan (11 November)
Path to qualification:
* Can not qualify for knockout stage