The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is reaching a crucial stage, and it’s been a tournament full of surprises so far. Lower-ranked teams have pulled off unexpected victories against their higher-ranked counterparts, making the competition even more exciting.
All the teams are now focused on gaining momentum and securing their places in the knockout round. As we approach the business end of the tournament, there’s a palpable sense of anticipation and excitement in the world of ODI cricket as teams give their all to qualify for the vital knockout matches.
As we cross the two-thirds mark in the league stage of the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup 2023, the battle for a spot in the top four is intensifying among the 10 teams. A surprising development came with the ICC’s announcement that the top seven teams in the competition will secure a place in the 2025 Champions Trophy, with Pakistan, the host nation, granted an automatic entry. Currently, every team is vying for a chance to reach the semifinals. Even England and Bangladesh, despite having only accumulated two points from six matches, maintain a mathematical possibility of advancing in the tournament.
Here are the qualification scenarios for the ten participating teams as they vie for a coveted spot in the semi-finals:
1. ENGLAND
The 2023 World Cup has been a complete disaster for the defending champions. They managed to secure a victory against Bangladesh but suffered defeats at the hands of New Zealand, South Africa, India, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka.
England’s journey in the tournament has been quite turbulent, with losses in five out of six games. To even have a glimmer of hope for making it to the semi-finals, they not only have to win their remaining matches against Australia, Netherlands, and Pakistan but also rely on the misfortunes of other teams. England’s fate now hinges on closely monitoring the performance of teams like Pakistan, Australia, and Afghanistan. If these teams stumble and face some losses, it might just create an opportunity for England to sneak into the semi-finals. In essence, England’s chances of qualifying heavily depend on the slip-ups of other teams.
Remaining Matches: AUS, NED, PAK
Matches Played: 6
Matches Won: 1
Matches Lost: 5
Net Run Rate: -1.652
2. BANGLADESH
Shakib Al Hasan’s team finds itself in a situation fairly similar to England’s, where their passage to the next phase of the 2023 World Cup hinges on other results falling in their favor. Bangladesh has had a rough run in this competition, managing just one victory so far. To keep their ambitions of reaching the semi-finals alive, they must secure wins in their future matches against Pakistan, New Zealand, and Australia. However, their fate isn’t entirely in their hands, as they also need other teams, including Pakistan, England, and the Netherlands, to endure setbacks in their forthcoming games. This would open up an opportunity for Bangladesh to advance, with parameters like net run rate and tie-breaker criteria potentially playing a vital role in their qualifying.
Remaining Matches: PAK, NZ, AUS
Matches Played: 6
Matches Won: 1
Matches Lost: 5
Net Run Rate: -1.338
3. NETHERLANDS
The Netherlands’ World Cup journey gained momentum with a crucial triumph over South Africa, and they secured their second win in the tournament by defeating Bangladesh. With four points earned from six games, the Netherlands must now focus on securing victories against Afghanistan, England, and India to maximize their chances of qualifying. Additionally, if New Zealand and Australia manage to win at least one of their three remaining games, the Netherlands still has a fighting chance to advance.
Remaining Matches: AFG, ENG, IND
Matches Played: 6
Matches Won: 2
Matches Lost: 4
Net Run Rate: -1.277
4. PAKISTAN
Pakistan’s chances of advancing in the tournament depend on a few critical factors. They’ve managed to secure two wins in six matches and now find themselves in a situation where they must win their upcoming games against Bangladesh and New Zealand to stay in contention. However, for Pakistan to secure a spot in the semi-finals, they’re also relying on other teams like Afghanistan, Australia, and New Zealand to stumble in their remaining matches. Pakistan’s hope is that these competitors will face setbacks, paving the way for Pakistan to move forward, possibly based on net run rate or other tie-breaker criteria.
Remaining Matches: BAN, NZ, ENG
Matches Played: 6
Matches Won: 2
Matches Lost: 4
Net Run Rate: -0.387
5. SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka’s performance in the tournament has been quite a rollercoaster, with two victories and four losses under their belt. In order to clinch a spot in the semi-finals, they’ll need to win their upcoming matches against India, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. But it’s not just about their own wins; they’re also keeping a close eye on the performances of other teams. For Sri Lanka to make it to the semi-finals, they’ll be relying on England, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to stumble in their forthcoming games. It’s a bit of a complicated path, with factors like net run rate and tie-breaker criteria coming into play.
Remaining Matches: IND, BAN, NZ
Matches Played: 6
Matches Won: 2
Matches Lost: 4
Net Run Rate: -0.275
6. AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan, despite a glimmer of hope from their three victories, finds themselves in a position where they must maintain their winning streak and closely observe the outcomes of matches involving teams like Australia and Pakistan. For Afghanistan, the focus is on continually securing victories and crossing their fingers for other teams to face setbacks, which might eventually pave the way for them to clinch a spot in the semi-finals, be it through a favorable net run rate or other tie-breaking criteria.
Remaining Matches: NED, AUS, SA
Matches Played: 6
Matches Won: 3
Matches Lost: 3
Net Run Rate: -0.718
7. AUSTRALIA
Australia’s World Cup 2023 journey has been quite the roller coaster, starting with a devastating loss and then soaring to a thrilling victory over their Trans-Tasman rival. With four consecutive wins under their belt, Australia is looking set to cruise through their remaining three matches and secure a spot in the semifinals. Achieving just two more wins will be enough for the five-time champions.
Remaining Matches: ENG, AFG, BAN
Matches Played: 6
Matches Won: 4
Matches Lost: 2
Net Run Rate: +0.970
8. NEW ZEALAND
The path to the semifinals becomes smoother for teams in the upper half of the table, starting with New Zealand. Having secured eight points in six games, New Zealand needs just two wins in their remaining three matches to secure a safe passage to the semifinals with a total of 12 points. However, it’s worth noting that, theoretically, even Afghanistan has a shot at reaching this same point total if they manage to secure three wins. In such a scenario, the net run rate would become a crucial factor to consider.
On the flip side, if New Zealand loses two out of their next three matches in the World Cup tournament, Afghanistan’s chances of sneaking into the top four will significantly improve. It’s important to highlight that, despite Australia having the same number of points as New Zealand, they have a more favorable schedule, increasing their likelihood of securing all six points.
Remaining Matches: SA, PAK, SL
Matches Played: 6
Matches Won: 4
Matches Lost: 2
Net Run Rate: +1.232
9. SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa has proven to be a strong competitor, with a record of five victories and just one loss in the tournament. Their impressive net run rate further boosts their prospects. Securing a win in their next match would give them the confidence they require to secure a spot in the semi-finals. How many wins it needs to advance depends on Afghanistan’s results. If the Afghan Atalan wins all three remaining games, South Africa needs to win two of its three to qualify. If Afghanistan loses even one match, then a solitary win for the Proteas will be enough.
Remaining Matches: NZ, IND, AFG
Matches Played: 6
Matches Won: 5
Matches Lost: 1
Net Run Rate: +2.032
10. INDIA
The team hosting the World Cup has been a dominant force, clinching victory in six consecutive matches. The only scenario that could hinder Rohit Sharma’s team from securing a spot in the semifinals is if India loses all three of their remaining games, while Afghanistan manages to win all three, resulting in both teams being tied in terms of net run rate. If India manages to defeat Sri Lanka on November 2, or if Afghanistan stumbles against the Netherlands on November 3, it will guarantee India’s place in the semifinals. Furthermore, if Afghanistan faces defeat against Australia or South Africa later in the tournament, India will also secure their qualification.
Remaining Matches: SL, SA, NED
Matches Played: 6
Matches Won: 6
Matches Lost: 0
Net Run Rate: +1.405
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