Pakistan is still in the race for a place in the final of Asia Cup 2025, but their qualifying route remains uncertain and can depend on Net Run Rate (NRR).
Even back-to-back victories in their remaining luminaires cannot guarantee progress, while in certain scenarios a single victory could be sufficient.
For example, if India wins all three of their Super Four matches and Pakistan succeeds in beating Bangladesh, but falls to Sri Lanka, India would move forward with three victories, so that the other three parties were each bound for one victory. In that case, NRR would determine the second finalist.
Pakistan sees both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, India who beats Sri Lanka and beats Bangladesh and makes India upset. In that case, three teams would end with two victories each, so that the qualification was pushed to NRR again.
If both Pakistan and India won all their remaining games, they would reach the final that will be played on 26 September. In this case, India would have three victories, Pakistan Two, Bangladesh One and Sri Lanka None, who offer the simplest path to the final.
Pakistan’s challenge is made more difficult by the defeat against India. In the Super Four collision in Dubai on Sunday, Pakistan 171–5 placed, but when India was chased the target in 18.5 overs.
Abhishek Sharma’s 74 out of 39 and Shubman Gill’s 47 out of 28 set up by India, which strengthens their NRR benefit.
In the other Super Four match, Bangladesh Sri Lanka defeated in a narrow match.
Bangladesh chased 169 and insured the victory with four wickets with one ball, thanks to half centers from Saif Hassan (61) and Towhid Hridoy (58). Mustafizur Rahman led their bowling effort by 3-20, while Dasun Shanaka from Sri Lanka back with an unbeaten 64 out of 37.
The result has opened qualifying routes and ensured that NRR is likely to be crucial.
Leftover luminaires
September 23: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka (Abu Dhabi)
September 24: India vs Bangladesh (Dubai)
September 25: Pakistan vs Bangladesh (Dubai)
September 26: India vs Sri Lanka (Dubai)
