India secured their spot at the top of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 points table with a dominant victory over arch-rivals Pakistan at the packed Narendra Modi Stadium. The win marked India’s third consecutive victory in a streak of eight, ensuring their place in the semi-finals.
As India prepares for the next stage, there is a looming possibility of facing Pakistan again in the tournament. The semi-final matchups depend on the teams’ standings at the end of the league stage.
The semi-final contenders are now awaiting the outcome of the remaining matches. There are three conditions that could lead to an India vs Pakistan semi-final.
1. Net Run-rate Battle:
- New Zealand, Pakistan, and Afghanistan are tied at eight points each.
- New Zealand’s better Net Run Rate puts them in fourth place.
- If Pakistan beats England and New Zealand loses to Sri Lanka, Pakistan could advance with 10 points.
- Afghanistan’s performance matters—if they lose, NRR comes into play, and if they lose both, Pakistan qualifies.
2. Rain Dilemma:
- If New Zealand wins and Pakistan vs. England is rained out, Pakistan is out.
- If the opposite happens, Pakistan may advance with 10 points, depending on Afghanistan’s performance.
3. Australia’s Hurdle:
- Australia, with 10 points, needs a win in either of their two remaining matches (against Afghanistan or Bangladesh) to reach the semi-finals.
- If they lose both, their fate depends on other match outcomes and NRR if they stay at 10 points.