LONDON: Australia are still the only team to have secured their World Cup semi-final qualification and five teams are still fighting out for the three remaining spots.

England’s win over India has made the semi-final qualification process fairly straightforward as of Monday. India, currently in second place, and third-placed New Zealand are locked on 11 points each, with the Indians having an extra game up their sleeve. In fourth spot is England with 10 points and one game to go. Below them are Pakistan on nine points and Bangladesh on seven.

India have two games to go — against Bangladesh on Tuesday and another one against Sri Lanka. The Black Caps’ last game is against hosts England while Pakistan’s final match of the league phase is against Bangladesh.

If England defeat New Zealand on Wednesday, the Englishmen will move up to 12 points and provided the Black Caps don’t lose too badly, their net run rate (0.572) won’t be adversely affected. In that scenario, New Zealand will still be on 11 points but with a net run rate that should see them through along with the hosts.

That’s because even if Pakistan defeat Bangladesh in their final league game, their net run rate (-0.792) is unlikely to surge past that of New Zealand, or India for that matter if they end up losing to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and also remain on 11 points.

If New Zealand defeat England, Pakistan can then make it to the semi-finals provided they beat Bangladesh.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2019