World Cup 2019: Semi-finals qualification scenario for all teams

Some tight finishes, a couple of major upsets and loads of brilliant individual performances have been put together to light up the World Cup 2019 which has provided everything a true cricket fan could have asked for.

Barring a few washout games, the World Cup has lived up to the expectations. All the teams have put their best foot forward to secure a place in the semi-finals. Talking about the semi-finals, the race to make it to the knockout stage of the tournament has just heated up.

At the start of the tournament it was believed that teams should atleast have 12 points to reach the semi-finals. But, because of the washout games and some unlikely results, teams with 10 or even 9 points can make it to the last-four stage.

The current World Cup points table is as follows-

Points table

The points table has given rise to different permutations and combinations to decide the four semifinalists.

Here is a look at the current position of each team in the points table and whether they can make it to the semi-finals or not and if yes, the qualification scenarios as well.

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#10 Afghanistan

Afghanistan

Remaining matches

Vs Bangladesh, at Southampton, Jun 24

Vs Pakistan, at Leeds, Jun 29

Vs West Indies, at Leeds, Jul 4

With no wins in six games, Afghanistan are all but out of the competition. Afghanistan did manage to give massive scares to India and Sri Lanka but unfortunately, couldn't deliver the knockout punch.

However, they still have 3 matches to go and they would want to bring smiles to their supporters by delivering a good performance.

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#9 South Africa

South Africa

Remaining matches

Vs Sri Lanka, at Chester-le-Street, Jun 28

Vs Australia, at Manchester, Jul 6

With the defeat against Pakistan, South Africa are knocked out of the race for a place in the semi-finals. The Proteas have looked completely out of sorts in the tournament so far and they will play for pride in their remaining two matches against Sri Lanka and Australia.

#8 West Indies

West Indies

Remaining matches

Vs India, at Manchester, Jun 27

Vs Sri Lanka, at Chester-le-Street, Jul 1

Vs Afghanistan, at Leeds, Jul 4

After starting their World Cup campaign with an emphatic win against Pakistan, West Indies have failed to build on that momentum and their hopes for qualifying for the semi-finals is hanging by a thread.

Apart from winning their remaining three matches, West Indies will need other results to go it's way. West Indies have 3 points from 6 matches, and even if they manage to win their remaining three games, one of which is against the unbeaten Indian team, West Indies will end up with 9 points. They would then hope for the following results-

1. England lose all their matches

2. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan lose atleast two games

If Bangladesh and Pakistan each win two of their remaining games, then it will get down to the net run-rate.

#7 Pakistan

Pakistan

Remaining matches

Vs New Zealand, at Birmingham, Jun 26

Vs Afghanistan, at Leeds, Jun 29

Vs Bangladesh, at London, Jul 5

With a victory against South Africa, Pakistan have kept their World Cup hopes alive. Pakistan got off to a dreadful start with an embarrassing defeat against West Indies. They registered an astonishing victory against England before going down against arch-rivals India.

However, the win against South Africa has given Pakistan a new lease of life. Pakistan now have 5 points in 6 games and are in 7th place on the points table. Importantly, Pakistan are set to play against Afghanistan and Bangladesh in their last two group games and will be confident of winning those two matches.

In case Pakistan win all their remaining three games, they will qualify if

1. Sri Lanka lose atleast one match

2. England lose atleast two matches

Both Pakistan and England can qualify for the semifinals with 11 and 10 points respectively if atleast one of India, Australia and New Zealand lose all their matches, an unlikely scenario considering their current form.

If Pakistan win two games then they will qualify if

1. England loses all their matches

2. Bangladesh lose atleast two games

3. West Indies lose atleast one game

#6 Bangladesh

Bangladesh

Remaining matches

Vs Afghanistan, at Southampton, Jun 24

Vs India, at Birmingham, Jul 2

Vs Pakistan, at London, Jul 5

Bangladesh have done well enough to stay alive in the tournament. Riding on Shakib Al Hasan's phenomenal run, Bangladesh have stunned the likes of South Africa and West Indies and currently have 5 points in six games.

Having said that, they will need to win their next three games to secure a place in the semis. However, winning these games might not be enough for Bangladesh as they will have to rely on other results to go their way.

They will make it to the semis if

1. Sri Lanka lose atleast one match

2. England lose atleast two matches

Both Bangladesh and England can qualify for semis with 11 and 10 points receptively if atleast one of India, Australia and New Zealand lose all their matches, an unlikely scenario considering their current form.

If Bangladesh win two games then they will qualify if

1. England lose all their matches

2. Pakistan lose atleast two games

3. West Indies lose atleast one game

#5 Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Remaining matches

Vs South Africa, at Chester-le-Street, Jun 28

Vs West Indies, at Chester-le-Street, Jul 1

Vs India, at Leeds, Jul 6

After a disappointing start to their campaign, Sri Lanka have clawed their way back into the competition with a stunning victory against the hosts, England. With 6 points in six games, Sri Lanka are currently 5th on the points table. From their remaining three matches, Sri Lanka will fancy their chances against South Africa and West Indies. However, they will have their task cut out against the rampant Indian team.

Here are possible scenarios in which Sri Lanka can make it to the semi-finals.

If Sri Lanka win all the games, they will hope that

1. Any one of India and England win not more than one game each or any one of New Zealand and Australia lose all their matches.

If Sri Lanka tie with England or Australia at 12 points, there are most likely to be eliminated due to poor net run-rate.

If Sri Lanka win two games they will need

1. England to lose all their remaining matches

2. Bangladesh and Pakistan to lose atleast one match.

#4 England

England

Remaining matches

Vs Australia, at London, Jun 25

Vs India, at Birmingham, Jun 30

Vs New Zealand, at Chester-le-Street, Jul 3

With defeats against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, England have made things extremely difficult for themselves. England might have 8 points in 6 games but their remaining matches are against the top three teams on the points table.

The hosts will have to bring their A-game at fore to make it to the semi-finals. The only positive for England is their superior net run-rate that will help them to go through the knockouts in case they end up being with the same points as other teams.

- If England win all the three matches, they are through.

- If they win two matches and Sri Lanka win all it's remaining three matches, England go through on the basis of the higher net run-rate.

However, if England win just one game then they will need the following result going their way.

- Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan lose atleast one game.

In case England lose all three games they can qualify if

- Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh lose atleast two games and West Indies lose atleast one match.

#3 India

India

Remaining matches

Vs West Indies, at Manchester, Jun 27

Vs England, at Birmingham, Jun 30

Vs Bangladesh, at Birmingham, Jul 2

Vs Sri Lanka, at Leeds, Jul 6

India have remained unbeaten so far in the tournament and are third on the points table with 9 points in 5 matches. India still have four matches to play in the group stage and would like to enter the knockout stage by winning all of them.

If the Men in Blue do so, they will be in the semi-finals. Even if they manage to win only two of these tw0 games they will be through.

However, if India win just one game then they will need

1. England to win no more than one game

2. Sri Lanka to win no more than two games

In the scenario where India loses all their matches, they will get through if

1. Sri Lanka win no more than one game

2. Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies lose atleast one game

#2 Australia

Australia

Remaining matches

Vs England, at London, Jun 25

Vs New Zealand, at London, Jun 29

Vs South Africa, at Manchester, Jul 6

With just one defeat in 6 games, Australia are just one win away from making it to the semi-finals. Australia currently have 10 points in six games and are scheduled to play England, New Zealand and South Africa in their last three group games.

Australia have a strong net run-rate which means they need to win just one game to qualify for the semi-finals. If they win just one game and Sri Lanka win all of their remaining games, they will be tied at 12 points and Australia will get through if they do not suffer heavy defeats in any of the matches.

- If Australia lose all the matches then for them to qualify, they will need Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh to win no more than two games.

- Australia and Sri Lanka can qualify at 10 points each if India or England lose all of their games.

#1 New Zealand

New Zealand

Remaining matches

Vs Pakistan, at Birmingham, Jun 26

Vs Australia, at London, Jun 29

Vs England, at Chester-le-Street, Jul 3

With 11 points from six matches, New Zealand are sitting pretty at the top of the points table at the moment. The Kiwis have been able to win a couple of nail-bitters against South Africa and West Indies and have been a team to beat in the competition so far.

However, the team will realise that they are yet to face Australia and England, two teams that are considered to be the favorites to lift the trophy. The Black caps will also be wary of the fact that they will need to enter the semi-finals with some momentum.

They will be up against Pakistan on June 26th. If they win even one of their remaining matches they will make it to the semis. The Kiwis are set to qualify for the semis even if they go on to lose all their remaining matches as it is highly unlikely that four teams will end up with more than 11 points.