Pallab Bhattacharya
After Bangladesh’s victory against Afghanistan on Monday, the World Cup cricket competition has reached such a tantalizing stage where the qualification for the semifinals may depend on how each team perform in the remaining matches. Depending on the results of remaining fixtures, it is theoretically possible that the progress of some of the eight teams (Afghanistan and South Africa are out of the semifinal race) into the last four stage will not be entirely in their hands.
The two unbeaten teams in the tournament New Zealand, at the top of points table with 11 points, and India, with nine points, look the most comfortably-placed to enter the last four stage. If they win one more match, they are through. However, if they lose all their next three matches, they can still qualify but it will depend on how Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka perform.
New Zealand will be playing Australia (Tuesday), Pakistan and England. If they all lose the three matches, they may still move into the semifinal but that will depend on how Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka perform in their upcoming matches. India, with nine points from five matches so far, have won so far four out of their 5 matches and take on West Indies, England, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the remaining outings. Winning two of these matches should not be too difficult for them. However, if India win only one match, things could be dicey for them as they would then need England to win just one of their three remaining matches and Sri Lanka win two.
Australia, placed second now with ten points, are slated to play against England, New Zealand and South Africa and need to win one more match to guarantee a place in the semifinal. But if they lose all the next three encounters, they can still hope that Sri Lanka lose at least two of their remaining fixtures and Bangladesh and Pakistan lose at least one match. If Australia win just one match and Sri Lanka win all their three, the two sides will be tied with 12 points and superior run rate will decide which of the two will qualify.
England, with eight points from six games, will face Australia, India and New Zealand in the forthcoming matches and if they end up losing all the three they could exit from the tournament. Even if they win one more match, their qualification is not guaranteed. If Sri Lanka win all their remaining three matches, they can finish with 12 points ahead of England.
Bangladesh have seven points in as many games and are slated to play against India and Pakistan. If they win both their matches, they finish with 11 points and can still qualify if Sri Lanka lose all their remaining matches and England win not win more than one of their next three matches. With six points from six games, Sri Lanka are slated to face South Africa, West Indies and India and have the possibility of finishing with 12 points if they win all the three matches. However, if they end on 10 points, they will have to hope England lose all their remaining matches, Bangladesh do not win more than two and Pakistan lose at least one.
West Indies have three points from six games and have three more matches against India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Even if they calypso men win all their remaining matches, they will still hope for England losing all their matches and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka not winning more than one match each and Pakistan lose at least two.
Pakistan have five points from six matches and will face New Zealand, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. If they win all the three matches, they will end with 11 points and then hope that England do not win more than one and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka lose at least one match each.
