World Cup 2023: After Australia beat Afghanistan, will India and Pakistan clash in semi-final? know scenarios here

Aus vs AFG: Australia have become the third team after India and South Africa to qualify for the semifinals of the ongoing ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023. Australian star batter Glenn Maxwell’s 201 not-out helped his team to win the WC match against Afghanistan by three-wicket at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Australia took its tally to 12 points with six wins in eight games. India (16 points) and South Africa (12 points) have already qualified for the semi-finals. Australia is third on the points table, trailing South Africa only due to an inferior net run rate. India is at the top of the standings with eight wins in as many matches.

India has 16 points with eight wins in eight matches. Hence Team India will remain number 1. The Rohit Sharma-led team has to play its last match against Netherlands on 12th November. South Africa still have one match left against Afghanistan on Friday and if this team wins this, then the second place will be almost confirmed.

Afghanistan is tied with New Zealand and Pakistan on eight points after eight games but behind on net run rate. The three teams — Pakistan, New Zealand, and Afghanistan — are primarily in contention to become the last team to qualify for the semis.

WorldCupFeverWithDNA  Here’s how the points table look after the match between Australia and AfghanistanDIWorldCup2023 CCCricketWorldCup pic.twitter.com/V1qwzw4d4N

— DNA (@dna) November 7, 2023

How an India-Pakistan semi-final clash is possible? 

New Zealand plays their ninth match of the tournament against Sri Lanka on November 9. And Pakistan faces England on November 11. A Kiwi loss with a Pakistani win will put 10 points in the kitty of the Babar Azam-led side.

If New Zealand wins its last league match, then Pakistan will have to defeat England by a huge margin, only then they will be able to overtake New Zealand in net run rate and reach above them in the points table. At the same time, if the New Zealand team loses to Sri Lanka, then the task will become a little easier for Pakistan. New Zealand will be stuck on only 8 points, and Pakistan will have 10 points.

If NZ vs SL match is washed out, they will remain at eight points, and their fate will depend on the outcome of the match between Pakistan and England in Kolkata. If Pakistan wins and Afghanistan loses its remaining matches against South Africa, Pakistan will qualify for the semi-finals. Then India vs Pakistan will clash in the semi-final.

READ | Glenn Maxwell’s magical 201 is easily the best innings in World Cup history; move over Kapil, Sachin, Stokes | Opinion