New Zealand’s comfortable victory against Sri Lanka in the World Cup has further slimmed Pakistan’s chances of making it to the semifinal stage of the mega event. The 1992 World Cup champions would need a “miracle” or extreme all-round performance to pound England on Saturday sans rain.

“The scenario that awaits Pakistan when they take on England. If they bat first & score 300 they’ll have to bowl England out for 13,” former English cricketer Mike Atherton said in his post match analysis. “If Pakistan bowl first & dismiss England for 50, they will have to chase down the target in about 2 and a half overs.”

The Black Caps after beating Sri Lanka stand at fourth position in the points table, with 10 points and a run rate of +0.743, followed by Pakistan having eight points and a run rate of 0.036. Afghanistan are at sixth position with eight points and a run rate of -0.338.

If the Babar Azam side fails to clinch the victory in the required scenario then New Zealand would join India, South Africa, and Australia in the semifinals. The top three teams would be playing their next games this week which would have no impact on their position at the points table.

But there are still many calculations fans and cricket experts have made around the world for Pakistan in case they want to finish in the top four in the mega event.

Assuming they bat first and score 300, Pakistan would need to beat England by 287 runs to move into the top four, ESPNcricinfo said in a post on X.

It added that in case Afghanistan need to proceed forward in the tournament they have to win by 438 runs to go past New Zealand’s net run rate.

One user on social media shared this scenario

1. Score 300, restrict England to 13.

2. Score 400, restrict England to 112.

3. Score 450, restrict England to 162.

4. Score 500, restrict England at 211.

Many experts have described Pakistan’s performance at the World Cup as “timid” and “outdated”, saying that the players also lacked fitness in a 50-over game. In many matches, Azam-led side has failed to bat complete overs of the game and the bowlers have been seen leaking runs.

Legendary Pakistani bowler Wasim Akram after Pakistan’s loss to Afghanistan had slammed national players over their fitness.

But few experts have stated that many players of the Green Shirts side in the tournament were young and lacked experience.

Still, many fans and Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur are waiting for some “divine help” for one last push to squeeze into the World Cup semifinals.

“Who knows how we are going to go in this competition. I have a real feeling we’re going to get to the semi-finals but let’s see what happens. What we do know is that it will in our hands come Saturday. With a little bit of divine help, we can get to the semi-final but we have to play well. We played the perfect game once, I think, and that was against Bangladesh,” Arthur had told reporters.