Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: Rain has long been cricket’s most unpredictable third umpire. The forecast over Pallekele on 28th February threatens to end Pakistan’s tournament hopes without a single ball being bowled. Pakistan head into their final Super 8 fixture against Sri Lanka needing a big victory. They currently place third in Group 2 with just one point and a negative net run rate of -0.461. A washout would not simply be inconvenient. It would be mathematically terminal for the Men in Green.
The top two teams from each of the two Super 8 groups advance to the semi-finals. Officials use NRR as the tiebreaker when teams finish level on both points and wins. England have already sealed their berth after winning all three Group 2 fixtures. This leaves the second spot as an intensely contested prize between Pakistan and New Zealand.
New Zealand currently sit on 3 points with a considerably superior NRR of 1.390 following their loss to England on Friday. If Saturday’s match in Pallekele produces no result due to rain, both sides collect one point apiece under ICC regulations. That outcome takes Pakistan to just 2 points. They remain one point behind New Zealand, who advance without needing to face another ball. New Zealand qualify alongside England from Group 2 if rain washes out the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka game.
Over in Group 1, the picture is similarly developing. South Africa have already confirmed their place in the knockout stages after dominant victories over both India and the West Indies. The India vs West Indies match at Eden Gardens on Sunday will determine the second team from Group 1 to progress.
The ICC has scheduled the semi-finals for 4th and 5th March. The first takes place at Eden Gardens and the second at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Should Pakistan not feature in the semi-finals, the first semi-final remains at Eden Gardens. It will not shift to the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
If the rain washes out the game, the four semi-finalists would be England, New Zealand, South Africa, and whichever of India or the West Indies prevails on Sunday. This conclusion would confirm Pakistan’s earliest Super 8 exit from a T20 World Cup in recent memory.
