ISLAMABAD – The drama of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup continues despite Pakistan’s below par performance and blunder in the blockbuster game against India. Despite the outrage, fans worldwide dream of yet another blockbuster clash between cricket giants Pakistan and India. Yes, it could happen in the semi-final or even the grand final, but only if both teams survive the brutal Super Eight battlefield.
The super eight stage officially begun, and stakes could not be higher. In the opening super eight match, Pakistan faces New Zealand in a must-win battle. The top eight teams from the league phase are split into two high-octane groups of four, each fighting three matches to secure a semi-final berth.
Group One reads like a cricketing war zone: India, Zimbabwe, West Indies, and South Africa. Group Two is equally intense, featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and England. The burning question: can the arch-rivals meet again? The answer is a thunderous yes — but the path is treacherous.
India must conquer giants like South Africa and West Indies while avoiding slip-ups against Zimbabwe. Pakistan, meanwhile, faces equally daunting hurdles against New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and England.
if both teams finish top of their respective groups, they will avoid each other in the semi-final. But if one tops the group and the other finishes second, a semi-final face-off becomes inevitable, a clash that could stop the cricketing world in its tracks. The first semi-final is scheduled for March 4 in either Kolkata or Colombo. The second semi-final follows on March 5 in Mumbai. Should Pakistan qualify, its semi-final would shift to Colombo.
The two teams have met only once in a knockout match of the T20 World Cup, the unforgettable 2007 final where the young side led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni edged out Pakistan, captained by Shoaib Malik, in a nail-biting finish. Earlier that tournament, India also triumphed in the league stage via the infamous ball-out rule.
Since then, league encounters in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2024, and the current edition have produced drama, with Pakistan’s sole T20 World Cup victory arriving in 2021 through a dominant 10-wicket win.
The semi-final format itself guarantees suspense. It follows a crossover system: the Group 1 champion plays the Group 2 runner-up, and vice versa. If India tops its group and Pakistan finishes second (or the reverse), the rivals could collide in the semis.
The championship match is set for March 8 in either Ahmedabad or Colombo. If Pakistan reaches the final, it will be staged in Colombo; otherwise, Ahmedabad hosts the spectacle. A final featuring both giants would require them to win their respective semi-finals, a scenario that would ignite global cricket hysteria.
Under the hybrid model, Pakistan plays all its matches in Sri Lanka. Should both teams reach the final, India would travel to Colombo for the ultimate battle — just as it did for a league match on February 15. The possibilities are endless. And the world watches, waiting to see if cricket’s greatest rivalry will deliver yet another unforgettable chapter.
Rain stops Super Eight PAKvNZ Showdown as Pakistan opt to bat in T20 World Cup
