ISLAMABAD: Despite consecutive defeats at the hands of India and Zimbabwe, Pakistan are still in the race for the semifinals of the T20 World Cup 2022, with Pakistan’s Shan Masood saying on Thursday that the team has no other option but to win all three of their upcoming matches in the tournament. 

Pakistan lost to India by four wickets last Sunday and on Thursday, lost to Zimbabwe in another thriller by one wicket. As things stand currently, Pakistan are placed at number 5 in the group only above the Netherlands with 0 points so far. 

“We have three games that are in our hands, yes, we have to depend on few other results, but that’s the beauty of sport,” Masood, who made 44 before Zimbabwe choked Pakistan to 129-8, told reporters in Perth.

“There are funny things that have happened in sport and we are going to believe and we are going to give it all in these three games.”

Arch-rivals India are in pole position in the group, placed at the top with two victories from the two matches they have played so far. They have four points and with an impressive run rate, it seems likely they are headed to the semifinals. 

Zimbabwe and South Africa have three points each [a win and a draw] and are placed at number two and three in the group. With a single win so far, Bangladesh are placed at number four in the group with two points only. 

As Masood said, Babar Azam’s team has to win all three of their next matches against the Netherlands (October 30), South Africa (November 3) and then Bangladesh (November 6). 

However, Pakistan will still have to depend on the results of other fixtures for them to even have a sliver of a chance to make it to the semis. “If any two of India, Zimbabwe or South Africa win two of their remaining three matches then they will finish with more than six points – the maximum that Pakistan can reach,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on its website. 

Currently, Pakistan have yet to open their account in this year’s T20 World Cup. With 0 points, they sit at number five position on the points table. 

Net run rate will definitely be an important factor so Pakistan will need to register a huge victory in at least one of their matches.

Interestingly for Pakistan, its fans will be backing arch-rivals India on October 30 to beat South Africa. A loss for South Africa would leave them particularly vulnerable given they dropped points in the match washed away by rain against Zimbabwe.