The ongoing cricket World Cup in India has seen some thrilling matches, unexpected upsets, and fierce competition. As the tournament progresses, teams like Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, and England find themselves at crucial junctures, battling for a spot in the semi-finals. Let's take a closer look at what each of these teams needs to do to secure a place in the next round
England's consecutive defeats in the third and fourth matches, including the opening game, have put their title defence in jeopardy. With just two points from four games, they currently sit ninth on the points table, making their chances of reaching the semi-finals uncertain
Securing victories in their remaining five matches could see them accumulate a maximum of 12 points, a tally that might suffice for a coveted third or fourth-place finish in the league standings. However, any further losses in their upcoming matches could significantly diminish England's chances of reaching the semi-finals
South Africa began the tournament impressively, with Quinton de Kock's back-to-back centuries. A win against England by a substantial margin has boosted their prospects. Winning three of their final five games may be enough for South Africa to reach the semi-finals, considering their impressive run rate
Australia, like England, had a slow start but rebounded with wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan. They currently share points with Pakistan but are ahead in points table based on net run-rate, placing them in fourth place. Australia aims to continue this resurgence to secure a semi-final spot
Back-to-back losses have put Pakistan's semi-final spot at risk. With the race for third and fourth place wide open, Pakistan needs four wins from their remaining five matches to reach the critical 12-point threshold
Pakistan faces Afghanistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand, and England in their remaining fixtures. These encounters are far from easy, but victories over South Africa and England could significantly enhance their chances of progressing to the knockout stage