Bengaluru: The upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 encounter between Pakistan and New Zealand, scheduled for November 4 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, is under threat due to expected rain. The match will commence at 10.00 am.
Weather forecasts indicate a significant 70 to 80 per cent chance of rain during the Saturday afternoon in Bengaluru, which could potentially impact the game’s outcome.
For Pakistan, it is imperative to secure a victory against New Zealand this week with a substantial margin. A win by 84 runs would position Pakistan ahead of New Zealand in the tournament standings while chasing down the target in 35 overs can also give them an advantage.
In the unfortunate event of a match washout due to the inclement weather, both teams would be awarded one point each. However, it’s worth noting that a washout would not have any bearing on the net run rate calculations.
Meanwhile, South Africa defeated New Zealand by 190 runs in the 32nd match which has given slight help to Pakistan’s chances since Babar Azam and Co’s road to the semi-final of the World Cup remains difficult with many hurdles in between.
As it is essential for Pakistan to win their remaining matches, in an ideal scenario, the Green Shirts should beat New Zealand in the next game and hope the Black Caps lose to Sri Lanka.
If the Black Caps lose their matches, they’d end the group stage with eight points, and Pakistan can qualify for the knockout stage with 10 points should they beat their next two opponents.
Pakistan currently stand at the fifth spot with six points while New Zealand are at fourth with eight points.
