Sehwag Bluntly Rules Out Pakistan's T20 World Cup Semi-Final Qualification
Former India opener Virender Sehwag has delivered a stark assessment of Pakistan's prospects in the T20 World Cup 2026, firmly stating that he sees no path for Salman Ali Agha's team to reach the semi-finals. Despite being mathematically alive in the race for the last four, Pakistan faces a daunting challenge due to their inferior net run rate, which Sehwag believes is too steep to overcome.
The Daunting Qualification Equation for Pakistan
Pakistan's hopes hinge on a crucial match against Sri Lanka, but even a victory may not suffice. To secure a semi-final berth, they must not only win but do so with a massive margin to overhaul New Zealand's net run rate. Specifically, if Pakistan bats first and scores 160, they need to win by at least 65 runs. Alternatively, if chasing the same total, they must complete the target within 13.2 overs. Sehwag, during a discussion on Cricbuzz, was unequivocal in his dismissal of these scenarios.
When the anchor outlined the batting-first possibility, Sehwag responded bluntly, "Nahi hone wala. Aage padh" (It won't happen, read further). Shifting to the chasing scenario, he was equally dismissive, saying, "Wo bhi nahi hone wala" (This too won't happen). He elaborated further, emphasizing that Pakistan's prayers, which might have been answered in England's Super 8 victory over New Zealand, are unlikely to work against Sri Lanka.
Sehwag's Rationale: Batting Struggles and Unrealistic Expectations
Sehwag questioned how a team that has struggled to consistently reach 160 runs could suddenly chase such a target at breakneck speed. He pointed out that for Pakistan to qualify, Sri Lanka would have to play extremely poorly, such as being bowled out for 90, which he deemed improbable. "If they somehow qualify, very good. If they score 160 and then win by 60 runs, Sri Lanka would have to play some poor cricket. They would need to be bowled out for 90, which is not possible. Chasing the total down in 13.2 overs is possible, but their batting is not like that," he added.
He further stressed, "Pakistan are anyway not able to score 160, how will they chase the total down in 14 overs? It will be tough." This highlights the core issue: Pakistan's batting lineup has not shown the capability to perform under such pressure, making the required miracles seem far-fetched.
Current Standings and Remaining Qualification Spot
England have already secured the top spot in Group 2 of the Super 8 stage and booked their place in the semi-finals. The remaining qualification spot from the group will be decided between Pakistan and New Zealand, with the latter holding a significant advantage due to their superior net run rate. Sehwag's comments underscore the uphill battle Pakistan faces, as their fate depends not only on their own performance but also on unlikely outcomes in other matches.
In summary, Sehwag's dismissal of Pakistan's chances is rooted in practical analysis of their current form and the mathematical complexities of the tournament. While hope remains for fans, the former cricketer's blunt assessment suggests that a semi-final berth is a distant dream for the team in this edition of the T20 World Cup.
