A limping Glenn Maxwell confirmed Australia’s entry into the World Cup semi-finals at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday.
It was harsh on Afghanistan but they still are in with a chance of making it to the knockout rounds. Three teams — New Zealand, Pakistan and Afghanistan — can still finish tied on 10 points at the end of the league stage.
If Pakistan qualify as the fourth team, they will meet leaders India in the semi-final at Eden Gardens on November 16.
As per the arrangement, Pakistan will play their semi-final only in Calcutta. They have the second-best net run-rate NRR (0.036) now, after New Zealand (0.398).
In the event of teams finishing on equal points at the end of the group stage, the positioning of teams will be decided in the following order of priority:
a) The team with the greatest number of wins in the league matches will be placed in the higher position.
b) If there are teams with equal points and equal wins in the league matches, then in such case the teams will be placed according to their NRR.
c) If two or more teams are still equal, they will be positioned according to the result of the head-to-head matches played between them (then if still equal, NRR in those matches).
New Zealand meet Sri Lanka in Bangalore on Thursday while Afghanistan take on South Africa in Ahmedabad on Friday. Babar Azam’s team will have the advantage of playing last among the three teams — against England in Calcutta on Saturday — and will be aware of the exact NRR they need to achieve in the event of a tie on points.
If they don’t meet Pakistan, India will play their semi-final in Mumbai.
New Zealand, Afghanistan and Pakistan will have equal number of wins, besides being tied on points, if they win their last match. The NRR will then come into effect.