As the World Cup’s league stage approaches its conclusion, anticipation is high to determine the fourth semifinalist. India, South Africa, and Australia have already secured their spots, leaving New Zealand and Pakistan vying for the last qualification, with the latter teetering on the edge of elimination.
The fate of the fourth semifinalist will be decided on the penultimate day of the league stage in the 44th match, where Pakistan clash against England at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.
Pakistan’s journey in the tournament has been a rollercoaster. They started with two convincing wins against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka, but faced setbacks against India and Australia. Subsequent defeats against Afghanistan and South Africa put them in a precarious position. However, a change in strategy, with Fakhar Zaman replacing Imam-ul-Haq as the opener, brought about a turnaround. A crucial victory against Bangladesh and a 21-run win by D/L Method against New Zealand kept their hopes alive. Having said that, their mathematical possibilities are very low.
On the other hand, England’s tournament has been marred by unexpected lows. The Jos Buttler-led team started with a shocking loss to New Zealand and went on to lose five consecutive matches. Despite a convincing win against Bangladesh, defeats against Afghanistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, India, and Australia dimmed their hopes for a semifinal spot. Their position at the bottom of the table is a result of inconsistent batting and missed opportunities.
Despite flashes of brilliance, their overall performance fell short, leaving them out of semifinal contention. However, they aim to finish the tournament on a positive note, with an eye on securing the final Champions Trophy 2025 qualification spot. The defending champions hope to salvage pride with a strong performance in their final match against the Men in Green.
Time and Venue Details
November 11, 2:00 PM IST, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Expected conditions
Expect clear and warm daytime weather in Kolkata, transitioning to pleasant evenings. The Eden Gardens pitch differs from typical Indian surfaces as it doesn’t heavily favour batters.
Possible XIs
England: Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c/wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid.
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf.
Match-up
Fakhar vs Woakes: Pakistan is placing hopes on Fakhar Zaman to replicate his Bengaluru performance. To counter Fakhar, England are likely to field Chris Woakes, who has a successful record against the opener, having dismissed him three times in five innings. Despite that, Fakhar’s notable strike rate of 132 against him introduces an intriguing element to this clash.
Teams speak
Anything can happen in cricket (on qualification chances). We will try to finish the tournament on a high note. We have a plan for net run-rate and will try to execute it. We have planned about how to play the first 10 overs and what to do after that. If Fakhar Zaman plays for 20-30 overs, we can achieve what’s required. The role of Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Rizwan will also be important.
Babar Azam, Pakistan skipper.
“We’re probably as shocked as everyone else that we’ve not lived up to the standard that we wanted to live up to and win games of cricket. There’s massive disappointment and regret from us all that we haven’t been able to perform as well as we would as a team.
Dawid Malan. England opener.