Cricket World Cup 2023: What New Zealand and Pakistan need to qualify for semi-finals.

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We are nearing the business end of the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 league stage, with the semi-final matches just around the corner.

We already know the top three teams that have booked their spots for the semi-finals, with India as the table-topper, followed by South Africa in second place and Australia in third.

According to the format of this year's World Cup, the table-topper in the league stage will play the fourth-placed team in Semi-final 1, while the second-placed team will face the third-placed team in Semi-final 2.

It's being confirmed that South Africa will be playing against Australia in the second semi-final.

However, it is still undecided which team India will play in the first semi-final on Wednesday, November 15, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Two teams — New Zealand and Pakistan are in the queue for the fourth spot in the points table, and both of them have a more or less equal chance to qualify.

But there have to be a lot of permutations and combinations and a big pinch of luck on their side to grab the only semi-final spot available.

New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets on Thursday, November 9 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and is at 10 points with a huge lead in the net run rate.

New Zealand has a net run rate of 0.74. For Pakistan to reach 0.75, it needs to win by 287 or 288 runs if it bats first. If it bowls first, Pakistan needs to chase the target with 284 deliveries to spare.

However, the scenarios are hypothetical when Pakistan bats second. Hence, the deliveries to spare will change with the runs it concedes.

Pakistan’s only real chance is to bat first and score 400 and then restrict England to 112, then its NRR will go above New Zealand.

If Pakistan bowls first. their chances look very bleak. Even if they shoot out England for 100, they need to chase down the total in 2.5 overs, meaning win with 283 balls to spare.