Pakistan is in a spot of bother. After England beat them by 2 wickets in Pallekele, England has qualified for the semifinals from Group 2 of the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8. But now, the Men in Green are in a precarious situation to seal that second spot.
Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal qualification scenario
Pakistan’s qualification isn’t simple anymore. Several things need to go right for them. Firstly, they need to win their last match against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka and New Zealand can go past them with two wins each. That means New Zealand and Sri Lanka can’t win more than 1 match. Since New Zealand and Pakistan were involved in a washed-out match, they have one point each. Of course, the Kiwis have played one fewer game.
T20 World Cup 2026 Points Table: Super 8, Group 2
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Lost | No Result | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +1.491 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 3 | Pakistan | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -0.461 |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2.550 |
So, if New Zealand beat Sri Lanka on February 25, they must not beat England on February 27. If Sri Lanka wins against New Zealand, then Pakistan won’t like New Zealand to beat England by a big margin. This would mean the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match on February 28 will decide who goes through to the semifinals.
Remember, Sri Lanka has an abysmal net run rate. But that’s after just one match. Pakistan has an advantage in this regard. Considering New Zealand doesn’t win both matches, Pakistan can decide who goes through since NRR will decide the second semifinal spot from it that case.
T20 World Cup 2026, Super 8 Group 2: Remaining Fixtures
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| February 25 | New Zealand vs Sri Lanka | Colombo |
| February 27 | England vs New Zealand | Colombo |
| February 28 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | Pallekele |
