Pakistan's Babar Azam still hopes to reach World Cup 2023 semifinals

Pakistan captain Babar Azam said Tuesday that he still clings onto hope that his team can squeeze into the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-finals despite the odds stacked against them.

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“Yes. We are trying to win our next two matches and let’s see where we stand,” said Babar Azam after a seven-wicket romp over Bangladesh gave them a third win in seven matches. “We will take a lot of confidence into those matches.”

Pakistan have six points and sit in fifth place in the 10-nation table.

Pakistan’s third win keeps their semi-final hopes alive! 🇵🇰

Bangladesh are the first team to be mathematically out of contention for the top four ❌#PAKvBAN | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/6BdLFPzpAq

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 31, 2023

Australia, in fourth place, have eight points and a game in hand while third-placed New Zealand are third, also on eight points, having also played one game fewer.

Pakistan face New Zealand on Saturday at Bengalore’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium before finishing their group campaign against England at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on November 11.

As well as two wins, the 1992 champions will need other results go their way if they are to stay in the tournament.

Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed three wickets while openers Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique made 81 and 68 respectively as Pakistan chased down a 205-run target for the loss of three wickets with 105 balls to spare.

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“We know when Fahkar plays the way he can for 20-30 overs it is a different ball game. So we let him play his natural game and it is good to see,” said Babar Azam of Fakhar Zaman, the only Pakistan batsman to have scored a double century in ODI cricket.

Babar Azam added: “We started well. Shaheen took early wickets. The main thing is we stuck to our length in the middle overs and we took wickets.”

Bangladesh became the first team to be eliminated after six losses in seven games.

“At this moment we have to perform together in all three departments. It’s not any individual that can win us games,” said captain Shakib Al Hasan.

His team still have two games to play in the round-robin stage against Sri Lanka at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on November 6 and against Australia at Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Academy Stadium five days later.

“We need collective performances. Two more matches hopefully we can bounce back. The fans supported us and are behind us whether we are doing well or not. We have to give something back to them so they can smile,” said Shakib Al Hasan, playing in his fourth World Cup.