At Kolkata’s Eden Garden, England and Pakistan lock horns today in the ICC World Cup, marking the 44th match of the tournament. The encounter holds significant stakes for both teams as they strive to salvage pride and advance in the competition.
The journey to this juncture has been tumultuous for England, teetering on the brink of elimination from the Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, Pakistan finds itself entangled in a nail-biting battle, reminiscent of their 2019 campaign, requiring a decisive victory to secure a spot based on Net Run Rate (NRR).
The primary concern for both sides revolves around the lackluster performance of their bowlers in unfamiliar Indian conditions. Amidst a string of challenges faced by their cricket board, Pakistan managed a late turnaround, staying afloat in the tournament despite multiple setbacks. England, facing a similarly forgettable tournament, now strives for redemption beyond mere pride.
In a déjà vu scenario from 2019, Pakistan once again stands on the precipice, needing a substantial victory to outdo their rivals in the NRR standings. A meticulous analysis reveals the challenging targets they need to set or restrict England to in the pursuit of their semi-final aspirations.
If Pakistan bats first, the required NRR margins range from 13 runs for a 300 total to 211 runs for a 500 total. Conversely, if they field first, the winning scenarios demand swift dismissals at varying overs, emphasizing the gravity of the impending duel.
For England, the Champions Trophy 2025 qualification scenarios are intricately woven. A win against Pakistan coupled with specific outcomes in other matches keeps their hopes alive, while defeat leaves them reliant on favorable results elsewhere. A loss combined with favorable outcomes for Bangladesh and the Netherlands, however, would extinguish England’s chances of qualification.
As the teams finalize their strategies, the squads for the encounter boast formidable names. England’s lineup includes Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (w/c), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, and Brydon Carse.
Meanwhile, Pakistan counters with Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (w), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Imam-ul-Haq.
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Source: Global Greens
