Bureau Report
Lahore: After three rounds of matches the qualification stakes in Group 2 are beginning to take shape, with South Africa in pole position and Pakistan still in a heap of trouble. But it is still all to play for as the team battles for a spot in the ICC Men T20 World Cup 2022 semi-finals. We take a look at the state of play as things stand. South Africa’s win over India means they jump into top spot in the group on five points. India and Bangladesh are hot on their heels, both on four points. A net run rate of +0.844 gives India the edge between those two sides, but Wednesday’s India v Bangladesh fixture now looks even more pivotal. Zimbabwe’s stunning win over Pakistan had given them a chance, but their dramatic loss to Bangladesh means it will take something remarkable for them to finish in the top two from here. South Africa Net RR of +2.772, created by the crushing 104-run win over Bangladesh, means they are now clear favourites to qualify in the group.
Two defeats, both coming on the final ball of matches against India and Zimbabwe, have left Pakistan needing something special to make it to the semi-finals. And their hopes have taken another blow thanks to India’s defeat against South Africa – a result that complicates the qualification permutations for Babar Azam side. If Pakistan beat South Africa on 3 November and Bangladesh on 6 November, they will have amassed six points. But it is completely out of Pakistan’s own hands and looking increasingly unlikely that six points will be enough, although not mathematically impossible. Sunday’s win for South Africa means that even if Pakistan beat the Proteas in their next match, it will not be enough to see them leapfrog Temba Bavuma side. Net run rate could yet be a factor, so a big margin of victory in at least one of the remaining games wouldn’t hurt.