Pakistan's T20 World Cup Hopes Revived After England's Victory Over New Zealand
England's Win Boosts Pakistan's Semi-Final Chances
England's significant victory against New Zealand has reignited Pakistan's aspirations for the T20 World Cup 2026, keeping their semi-final dreams alive. Under the leadership of Salman Ali Agha, the team found themselves in a precarious situation, relying heavily on the outcome of the England vs New Zealand match held at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. With England already securing a spot in the semi-finals, their win over New Zealand has now opened a pathway for Pakistan to potentially join them, despite the fact that Pakistan has yet to secure a win in the Super 8 stage.
Path to Semi-Final Qualification for Pakistan
For the Men in Green, the upcoming match against Sri Lanka has transformed into a must-win scenario. Previously, they faced elimination even if the England vs New Zealand match had been canceled. Now, the stakes are higher, as the result of their game against Sri Lanka is critical. If Pakistan manages to defeat Sri Lanka, both they and New Zealand would end up with three points. However, the qualification would hinge on which team has the superior Net Run Rate (NRR). To advance to the semi-finals, Pakistan must either win by 68 runs or successfully chase down the target within 13 overs.
In the match between New Zealand and England, New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first, scoring 159/7, thanks to contributions from Glenn Phillips, who scored 39 runs off 28 balls, and Tim Seifert, who added 35 runs from 25 balls. Initially, it seemed New Zealand was on track for an easy victory, but a quick partnership of 44 runs in just 16 balls between Will Jacks (32 runs off 18 balls) and Rehan Ahmed (19 runs off 7 balls) dramatically shifted the momentum in favor of England.
Final Two Teams for the Semi-Finals
With England and South Africa already confirmed for the semi-finals, only two spots remain. The upcoming matches in the Super 8 stage are essentially knockout games. Pakistan must defeat Sri Lanka by a margin of 68 runs or chase the score in 13 overs to surpass New Zealand. Meanwhile, India is set to face the West Indies, with the winner of that match claiming the last available semi-final spot.