India beat Bangladesh at Edgbaston on Tuesday to qualify for the semifinals of World Cup 2019, while keeping Pakistan's hopes of a last-four finish alive.
The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is one of the most intense in all of sport and the fans on either side of the border could be treated to an India-Pakistan semifinal or a final in the ongoing World Cup if the script plays out as follows:
For an India-Pakistan semifinal
New Zealand beats England, in Durham
India beats Sri Lanka, on Saturday
South Africa beats Australia, on Saturday
Pakistan beats Bangladesh, on Friday
In such a scenario, Pakistan will finish fourth on the points table and India on top. The semifinal line-up is first placed team plays the fourth, and second plays third.
For an India-Pakistan final
New Zealand beats England today
India wins or loses to Sri Lanka, on Saturday
Australia beats South Africa, on Saturday
Pakistan beats Bangladesh, on Friday
In such a scenario, the semifinal line-up will be New Zealand versus India and Pakistan vs Australia. This throws up the prospect of both India and Pakistan winning to set up a final clash.
India and Pakistan in World Cups
It took 17 years and four World Cups before India and Pakistan first met in the World Cup. The two have played seven times in the quadrennial event, including the clash at Old Trafford in this edition, and India has won every single encounter. The last time India and Pakistan met in a World Cup semifinal was in 2011 when Sachin Tendulkar's 85 coupled with a fine bowling performance saw the host side trump the then Shahid Afridi-led side by 29 runs in Mohali. India went on to beat Sri Lanka in the final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
NOTE: If England beats New Zealand, that would be the end of the road for Pakistan.
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