Pakistan endured a 62-run defeat to Australia in their ODI World Cup clash at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday, October 20. This result not only marked Pakistan's second consecutive loss in the series but also elevated Australia on the points table after their back-to-back defeats to India and South Africa in their first two matches.
Meanwhile Pakistan face a challenging pathway ahead in the rate race of semifinal. Their initial triumphs against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka seemed promising, but the tables turned with a disheartening loss to their arch-rivals India on October 14.
These back-to-back losses have cast shadows over Pakistan's prospects of securing a spot in the semi-finals. The looming threats are none other than New Zealand and India, both of whom maintain an unblemished record in the ongoing ODI World Cup, boasting eight points after playing four matches each.
As it stands, Pakistan hold onto its four points from as many matches, putting them on par with South Africa and Australia. Surprisingly, they still have an edge over the defending champions, England, who have accumulated just two points.
The net run rate emerges as a significant concern for Pakistan, currently sitting at a worrisome -0.456. Despite a commendable batting display that saw them surpass the 300-run milestone against Australia, the margin of defeat did them no favors.
Nevertheless, the road to the semi-finals isn't entirely barricaded for Pakistan. As the World Cup heats up, as the race for third and fourth place is still wide open, with only the top two teams currently possessing a points lead. With the semi-final entry possibly requiring around 12 points, the 1992 champions, Pakistan, can achieve this by emerging victorious in four out of their next five matches.
The forthcoming fixtures for Pakistan include ties against Afghanistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand, and England. While none can be labeled as a walkover, Babar Azam's brigade has the expertise and skill to clinch the required wins. Triumphs against South Africa and England could be particularly impactful, potentially upsetting the prospects for their closest competitors in the race to the knockout stages.
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