How can Afghanistan reach semifinals of ODI World Cup 2023?

Here is how Afghanistan can reach the last four stage in the ongoing 2023 ODI World Cup.

Published : Oct 31, 2023 12:08 IST - 1 MIN READ

The Afghans have kept their chances of making the semifinals with thumping wins over Sri Lanka and the Netherlands.
The Afghans have kept their chances of making the semifinals with thumping wins over Sri Lanka and the Netherlands. | Photo Credit: VEDHAN M/The Hindu
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The Afghans have kept their chances of making the semifinals with thumping wins over Sri Lanka and the Netherlands. | Photo Credit: VEDHAN M/The Hindu

First, here is how the points table looks after match No. 34 between Afghanistan and Netherlands

Team Played Won Lost Points Net Run Rate
1. India (Q) 7 7 0 14 +2.102
2. South Africa 7 6 1 12 +2.290
3. Australia 6 4 2 8 +0.970
4. New Zealand 7 4 3 8 +0.484
5. Afghanistan 7 4 3 8 -0.330
6. Pakistan 7 3 4 6 -0.024
7. Sri Lanka 7 2 5 4 -1.162
8. Netherlands 7 2 5 4 -1.398
9. Bangladesh (E) 7 1 6 2 -1.446
10. England 6 1 5 2 -1.652

Remaining fixtures: AUS and SA

The Afghans kept their chances of making the semifinals with a thumping seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka and they went on to beat Netherlands with a similar fashion. This was the team’s fourth win in the tournament, which took its points tally to eight.

It also meant that the top four, especially New Zealand and Australia, would be affected by Afghanistan’s results. 

Two wins from the next two would take Afghanistan’s tally to 12 points. If either Australia or New Zealand loses two or more games, Afghanistan will advance to the top four. Even one defeat against Australia would assure it a place. 

However, two losses would require New Zealand to lose all three and Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the Netherlands to get less than eight points for Afghanistan to qualify. 

Assuming it loses to both Australia and South Africa, here are the results Afghanistan needs to stay in the hunt:

NZ vs PAK - PAK

ENG vs AUS - AUS

IND vs SA - IND/SA

BAN vs SL - BAN

AUS vs AFG - AUS

ENG vs NED - ENG

NZ vs SL - SL

SA vs AFG - SA

AUS vs BAN - AUS

ENG vs PAK - ENG

IND vs NED - IND

Here, New Zealand and Afghanistan end up on eight points, and the team with the superior net run rate will advance.

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