In a surprising turn of events, Afghanistan has secured its first victory over Australia in the men’s T20 World Cup 2024. As a result, both teams are now on an equal footing with regards to their chances of making it to the final four in Group 1.
If both Australia and Afghanistan win their upcoming matches, three teams will finish with four points each. To advance to the final four, Afghanistan needs to beat Bangladesh by at least 36 runs on net run rate or achieve a victory in less than 15.4 overs if Australia wins a run-chase off the last ball.
On the other hand, India currently leads Group 1 with a net run rate of 2.425. For both Australia and Afghanistan to be knocked out of the competition, they would need significant victories against India. If Australia loses by just one run, they would need to lose by 31 runs for their run rate to fall below Afghanistan’s current position of -0.279. Alternatively, if Australia wins off the last ball and secures a run-chase victory over Bangladesh, they would need Bangladesh to lose by at least 55 runs for them to advance to the final four while keeping up with India’s pace.
In conclusion, the qualification scenarios in Group 1 have certainly added an exciting element to this year’s T20 World Cup competition as each team strives for its spot in the final four. With so much at stake, it is clear that every match will be crucial in determining which teams will ultimately make it through and join India and Pakistan in the semi-finals.
