Pakistan’s World Cup T20 quest has begun with mix of pressure and hope. The team still holds the chance of playing next round in the Super 8 stage, but their route will by no means be a straightforward one.
Sitting at third in Group A and having collected two wins and a loss, Pakistan is tied with the USA for points (the second placed team).
Win over Namibia at R. Premadasa Stadium on February 18 is the key for the Men in Green to advance.
Drama Before the India Clash
The India-Pakistan game attracted huge attention even before the first ball of the series. Pakistan at first thought to boycott the fixture in solidarity with Bangladesh, casting doubt on the high-profile conflict taking place.
After weeks of talks and negotiations, eventually Pakistan agreed to play, so that fans could see the match they had long-awaited.
Super 8 Structure Slashes Chances of Early Rematch
The tournament format now dictates whether Pakistan and India would meet again. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8s.
8 qualifiers are divided into two groups of 4, each. Pre-seeding by the ICC has put India and Pakistan in two different Super 8 groups, implying that the two will not face each other in the next stage.
Knockout Rounds Hold the Key
This structure does keep alive the possibility of an India-Pakistan clash but only in the knockout stages.
It is possible for a semi-final meeting to take place if both teams make the qualifying and end in complementary positions, such as the one taking the lead in its Super 8 group and the other finishing second.
The Dream Final Scenario
The ultimate rematch can occur in the ultimate game on March 8 if both make it out of their respective Super 8 groups and win their semi-finals.
Such a game would be one of the most awaited games in the context of world cricket and could attract record-breaking global viewership, and further revive the high level of rivalry between the two sides.
Also read: Pakistan vs India: No handshake between the two captains
