Pakistan secured a crucial seven-wicket victory over Canada in their third match of the T20 World Cup 2024, played in New York on Tuesday. This win has revitalized their hopes of qualifying for the Super 8s.
Chasing a target of 107 runs, Pakistan achieved the goal in the 18th over, with Mohammad Rizwan playing a key role by scoring an unbeaten 53*. Despite having two losses in their three matches, Pakistan still has a pathway to reach the Super 8s, though it remains challenging.
Here’s a breakdown of Pakistan’s possible qualification scenario for the Super 8s, based on the outcomes of the remaining group matches:
- June 12: USA vs India — India wins
- June 14: USA vs Ireland — Ireland wins
- June 15: Canada vs India — India wins
- June 16: Ireland vs Pakistan — Pakistan wins
If these results occur, Pakistan will have four points from four matches, and India will lead with eight points. The USA will end with the same points as Pakistan, while Canada and Ireland will finish with two points each.
In this scenario, India will directly qualify for the Super 8s. The USA and Pakistan, both with four points, will then rely on Net Run Rate (NRR) to decide who advances. Pakistan will need a substantial victory against Ireland and must hope the USA loses to both India and Ireland by significant margins.
During their match against Canada, Pakistan had a slow start, failing to hit any boundaries in the first four overs. Saim Ayub was the first to be dismissed, scoring only six runs and leaving Pakistan at 20-1 in 4.2 overs.
Despite the slow start, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan formed a solid 63-run partnership. Azam scored 33 runs before getting out, but Rizwan remained on the pitch, finishing with 53 runs off 53 balls and leading Pakistan to victory in 17.3 overs.
Earlier in the match, Pakistan’s bowlers dominated, restricting Canada to 106-7. Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf all played pivotal roles, with Amir and Rauf each taking two wickets, and Naseem and Shaheen grabbing one wicket apiece. For Canada, Aaron Johnson stood out, scoring 52 runs off 44 balls with eight boundaries.
This win keeps Pakistan’s hopes alive for the Super 8s, but they will need a combination of favorable results and strong performances to advance.
