When Pakistan cricket plays, you can expect the unexpected, as the men in green have lost the first Test match against Bangladesh in a two-game series, and that too at their own ground by 10 wickets.The Rawalpindi Test result not only ends Pakistan’s chances of winning the series, but their chances of qualifying for the WTC final look almost over now. There are many implications arising from this loss, with Pakistan slipping lower and Bangladesh rising much higher.
For Bangladesh, this came as their second win out of a total of 5 games, allowing them to rise above the rankings and clinch the sixth spot, leaving South Africa and Pakistan behind with 24 points and improving their points percentage (PCT) to 40. Meanwhile, the surprise is with Pakistan, who are not only considered a team that could qualify for the WTC final but have now faced a setback, slipping further into the mud and now placed at 8th spot with a PCT of 30.56, a decline from 36.7.
WTC points table
How Pakistan can qualify for WTC Final
The straightforward equation is now not so straight for Pakistan. The equation initially was simple, win 7 out of 9 games, which includes 7 home games and 2 outings abroad, and collect a 60% win percentage rate and more than 80 points. However, that clinical loss against Bangladesh came as a setback, which means their chances are now as slim as taking a thread from a needle. They have slipped from 6th to 8th place, affecting their PCT, which has decreased to 30.
Since they also have to play England and South Africa at home, things are not looking promising for them. In 2022, they lost the series against England at home 3-0, and now the debacle against Bangladesh is making things worse. They need to win at least 7 out of 8 to be in contention.
Can Bangladesh qualify for the WTC final?
Now speaking about the wounded Tigers, who are looking lethal for now, but predicting their chances is certainly a little early with many games left. Currently, having a win percentage of 40, they are increasing their chances, but it’s important to mention that they also need a 60% PCT, which means in the remaining Tests, they need 75 points.
One game is left against Pakistan, then they are playing against table-toppers India, followed by the West Indies, and two Tests against South Africa at home. It still looks like a daunting task to win at least 5 more Tests out of the remaining 7.
How WTC points are calculated
In simple terms, teams earn 12 points for each win, six points for a tie, and four points for a draw. However, there are also point deductions for breaching the over-rate rules. The tiebreaker is the percentage of points won.
