Regardless of the opposition, a win is a win. After losing to Bangladesh in their last World Cup match, Pakistan might be thinking along these lines. On that day, Pakistan’s fate in the World Cup was not in their own hands. They needed 2 points from that match to secure a spot in the semifinals. However, Pakistan’s journey to the semis is still uncertain, even after their recent win against the Netherlands.
On the other hand, New Zealand, their next opponent, can also be low on confidence. Even though they have a historical advantage in head-to-head matches with Pakistan, winning 7 out of 9 encounters in World Cups, they’ve had a rough patch in the current tournament. After winning the first four matches of the World Cup, New Zealand lost three in a row and are now struggling to secure a spot in the final four.
Both teams are facing injuries and uncertainties. New Zealand’s regular captain Kane Williamson is nursing an injury, and Pakistan’s squad has seen several players get injured, including Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Jimmy Neesham, and Matt Henry.
Amidst all these challenges, Pakistan is hoping that their all-rounder Daryl Mitchell will step up. In a press conference before the match, Mitchell said, “We want to play the kind of cricket we are known for. That’s how we’ve achieved success in the long run.”
Pakistan, however, is not just dealing with on-field challenges. There has been a turmoil in the team regarding player selection and decision-making. The sudden resignation of their chief selector, Mohammad Wasim, and the formation of a five-member investigation committee by the cricket board to examine whether there is any conflict of interest in the team’s composition have further added to the confusion.
The point table’s equation, team surrounded by so much controversy—all this is nothing new for Pakistan. They’ve faced a similar situation in the 1992 Cricket World Cup. Whether Pakistan can turn things around and emerge victorious in the current World Cup remains to be seen.
