Pakistan’s path to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi‑finals has narrowed significantly following a Super Eight defeat to England and a washed‑out match against New Zealand, leaving them with just one point from two games. England have already clinched their spot in the last four, meaning Pakistan must win their final Super Eight match against Sri Lanka to stay alive in the tournament.
Even a win over Sri Lanka will not guarantee qualification on points alone. Pakistan must also rely on favourable results in other Group 2 matches. One scenario sees Pakistan advancing if New Zealand lose both of their remaining games (against Sri Lanka and England), allowing Pakistan to finish with three points and overtake New Zealand in the standings.
If New Zealand win one match and lose the other, both Pakistan and New Zealand would end on three points. In that case, the Net Run Rate (NRR) — a statistical tiebreaker — would determine which team progresses, making Pakistan’s margin of victory against Sri Lanka critical.
However, if New Zealand win both remaining matches, they will finish with five points and secure the second semi‑final berth from the group alongside England, eliminating Pakistan regardless of their result. With no margin for error and outcomes dependent on other teams, Pakistan’s semi‑final hopes are “alive but hanging by a thread.”
