Even though except Pakistan and South Africa, all teams in both groups have played four matches each but yet the semi-finalists haven’t been determined yet.
Pakistan and South Africa will play their fifth respective matches at Sydney on Thursday. A victory for South Africa will guarantee their place from Group 2 in the semi-final of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 while Pakistan’s success will keep the stage open though with thin prospects for them.
Currently, in Group 2, India are ahead with six points followed by South Africa which have five points. Bangladesh have four points and are placed at third spot and Zimbabwe are at fourth place with three points.
Pakistan and Netherlands have two points each and placed at fifth and sixth positions respectively.
Group 2 Points Table
If South Africa win today, their will move to top spot with seven points. In a vice versa, Pakistan will gain two more points, and still remain a contender for the semi-final.
Both top positioned teams in the group standings – India and South Africa – have matches ahead with comparatively much weaker opponents.
After today’s match at Sydney, South Africa will play Netherlands at Adelaide on November 6 and India will meet Zimbabwe at Melbourne on the same day; therefore, Pakistan’s prospects are quite bleak.
Semi-final qualification scenarios for Pakistan:
- Pakistan win both their remaining matches against South Africa and Bangladesh
- South Africa lose to Netherlands or the match is washed out or ends in a tie
Or
- Zimbabwe defeat India
Head To Head in T20Is: Matches 21, Pakistan won 11, South Africa won 10
In bilateral T20I encounters, Pakistan have a slightly better record than South Africa. Out of 21 matches they played against each other from 2007 to 2021, Pakistan clinched 11 victories and South Africa 10.
It would be the fourth meeting of Pakistan and South Africa in ICC Men’s T20 World Cups. Previously, they met in 2009, 2010, and 2012 ICC World Twenty20 events, and Pakistan won on all those occasions.
Pakistan’s Playing XI against South Africa (possible):
- Mohammad Rizwan (Wicket Keeper)
- Babar Azam (Captain)
- Shan Masood
- Asif Ali
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Shadab Khan
- Mohammed Nawaz
- Mohammed Wasim
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Haris Rauf
- Naseem Shah
South Africa’s Playing XI against Pakistan (possible):
- Quinton de Kock (Wicket Keeper)
- Temba Bavuma (Captain)
- Rilee Rossouw
- Aiden Markram
- David Miller
- Tristan Stubbs
- Wayne Parnell
- Keshav Maharaj
- Anrich Nortje
- Lungi Ngidi/Tabraiz Shamsi
- Kagiso Rabada
Tags: #T20WorldCup #PAKvSA #INDvsBAN Fakhar Zaman Mohamad Haris
