How can Afghanistan qualify for CWC 2023 semi-finals despite heartbreaking loss to Australia?

Afghanistan lost to Australia in match no. 39 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at Wankhede Stadium.

On Tuesday, everyone witnessed something spectacular at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. It was the game between Australia and Afghanistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, and the game went both ways. But it was still a too-close yet so-far kind of situation for Afghanistan. After restricting Australia to 91/7 in 18.3 overs, they let the game slip away, or one can say it was a once-in-a-lifetime batting display from Glenn Maxwell.

Afghanistan needed this win badly to stay relevant in the race for the semi-finals, but they ended up with nothing. It was certainly a heartbreaking loss where they came so close to registering an epic win, but Maxwell stood in their way, who snatched a victory from their mouth. This defeat has shaken Afghanistan’s chances in the semis. But still, there is a small ray of hope.

Here’s how Afghanistan can qualify for CWC 2023 semi-finals.

After the defeat against Australia last night, Afghanistan are still in sixth place on the table with 8 points. Three slots are booked as India, South Africa, and Australia have made it to the knockouts. The fight is on for fourth place. New Zealand, Pakistan, and Afghanistan each have 8 points, and all three have one more game to play. For Afghanistan, mathematically, they can still qualify.

New Zealand will face Sri Lanka on Thursday, and Afghanistan will play against South Africa on Friday. Pakistan’s last game is against England on Saturday. New Zealand have a NRR of +0.398 while Pakistan have +0.036. Afghanistan have a NRR of -0.338, which is another issue with them. However, the ideal result for Afghanistan will be that if New Zealand and Pakistan lose their last match and somehow Afghanistan can beat South Africa, they will be through to semis.

Interestingly, there is also a prediction of rain in the games of New Zealand and Pakistan. So if both matches get washed out, then Afghanistan need to win their final game to qualify. But it looks next to impossible. However, if both New Zealand and Pakistan win their last game, then Afghanistan will have only one choice, which will be beating South Africa by a huge margin that can improve their NRR as compared to New Zealand and Pakistan, and they can make it to the semis of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

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