Pakistan’s hopes of qualifying in the semi-finals of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 were pinned on the possibility of Sri Lanka defeating New Zealand. But the Kiwis chased down the paltry target of 172 in just 23.2 overs and all but sealed the fate of Babar Azam and co, with their win.
As it stands, Pakistan is still mathematically alive in the race for the semis. However, in a bid to go past New Zealand’s net run rate of +0.743, Pakistan needs to beat England by a colossal margin.
The two sides will clash in Kolkata on Saturday and if Pakistan bats first, they have to defeat England by a massive margin of 287 runs or more.
The task becomes impossible if they are put to bowl first, Pakistan will have to chase down the target of 150 or more in 3.4 overs, 250 in 5.4 overs, and so on.
Ahead of what is a farewell match for both Pakistan and England, former India opener Virender Sehwag took a very brutal dig at the Men in the Green side while bidding them goodbye and a safe flight back home.
He wrote: “Pakistan Zindabhaag! Have a safe flight back home.”
He took a dig at Sri Lanka as well, saying that they played like Pakistan as well, getting bowled out for 171 runs against New Zealand.
He wrote: “Pakistan ki khaas baat hai ki jis team ko Pakistan support karti hai, woh team Pakistan ki tarah khelne lagti hai (One special thing about Pakistan is that whichever team they support that side begins to play like Sri Lanka). Sorry Sri Lanka.”
Sehwag was not the only one to bid a rather brutal farewell to Pakistan, his former Delhi and India teammate Aakash Chopra also has something to say to the Pakistan team. He quoted a Hindustan Times report post which said that Pakistan is unable to print passports due to a lack of lamination paper in the country.
Chopra then said: “No fuel to fly planes. No lamination paper to print passports. Qudrat Ka Nizaam isn’t particularly working well.”
This is the second time in two World Cups, that Pakistan are facing such a huge and impossible task to qualify for the semi-finals. in the 2019 World Cup as well, Pakistan needed to defeat Bangladesh by 300 or more runs in their last league match to qualify on the basis of net run rate.
