ICC Cricket World Cup: Pakistan are in the race to make the semi-finals (Reuters Photo)
The 2019 Cricket World Cup has truly spiced up. Hosts England were one of the hottest pre-tournament favourites to reach the semi-finals but after shock defeats to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, they find themselves in a bit of a tricky spot.
England have 8 points from 6 matches now and next face 3 of the most consistent teams in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. They take on Australia on June 25, India on June 30 and New Zealand on July 3. Not many would have expected England to go down to Pakistan and Sri Lanka the way they did.
What would make England fans very uncomfortable is that England do not have great World Cup records against Australia, India and New Zealand.
Moreover, Bangladesh's comfortable victory over Afghanistan on Monday has also opened up the table. The 62-run victory saw Bangladesh surpass Sri Lanka to be placed fifth on the table with 7 points from as many matches with a net run rate of -0.133.
India and New Zealand are the only unbeaten teams in the 2019 World Cup so far and should easily sail into the semis. Australia. who lost to India and have 10 points from 6 matches are also comfortably placed.
England take on Australia at Lord's on Tuesday and neither team would want to make any mistakes. This is a crucial juncture of the World Cup and a lot is at stake.
Here is a simple scenario that would scare English fans and cheer up Pakistani fans. England can still be knocked out and Pakistan can still reach the semi-finals despite a horror run in the World Cup so far.
Pakistan came in for severe criticism from their ex players and fans after a crushing defeat to India. A week later, Pakistan turned up much sharper and eliminated South Africa from the semi-finals race.
While England face 3 tough games next, Pakistan will be up against New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Of course Pakistan will have to win all 3 while England will need to lose all their 3 remaining matches for this scenario to come true.
Here is how the top 4 teams stand in the 2019 World Cup and their remaining matches in the tournament:
New Zealand [6 matches, 11 points]: vs Pak (June 26) | vs Aus (June 29) | vs Eng (July 3)
Australia [6 matches, 10 points]: vs Eng (June 25) | vs NZ (June 29) | vs SA (July 6)
India [5 matches, 9 points]: vs WI (June 27) | vs Eng (June 30) | vs Ban (July 2) | vs SL (July 6)
England [6 matches, 8 points]: vs Aus (June 25) | vs India (June 30) | vs NZ (July 3)
Meanwhile, Bangladesh have a real chance of making it to the top-four if they win their next two games and hope for England to lose three of their remaining four matches.
Sri Lanka also have a real chance of qualifying if they beat South Africa, West Indies and India in their remaining 3 matches. That would take their tally to 12 points.
Points Table, Cricket World Cup 2019 (As of June 25)
Bangladesh (7 points) - 11 points if they beat (India, Pak)
Sri Lanka (6 points) - 12 points if they beat (SA, WI, India)
Pakistan (5 points) - 11 points if they beat (NZ, AFG, BAN)
The West Indies also have an outside chance of qualifying but for that to happen, they need to win their remaining three matches against India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan by big margins and then hope for England, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan to lose their games. Only then will they have a mathematical chance of advancing.
West Indies (3 points) - 9 points if they beat (IND, SL, AFG)
South Africa (3 points) - Out of qualifications race
Afghanistan (0 points) - Out of qualifications race
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