T20 World Cup 2026: Can Pakistan Still Reach Semi-Finals After Loss to England?

ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 has placed Pakistan national cricket team in a difficult position after their narrow defeat to England national cricket team in the Super 8 stage. Pakistan lost the match by two wickets, leaving their chances of reaching the semi-finals uncertain.

Led by Salman Agha, Pakistan have played two matches in the Super 8s and currently hold just one point. With England already securing qualification from Group 2, the remaining semi-final spot is now contested by New Zealand national cricket team, Sri Lanka national cricket team, and Pakistan.

Pakistan’s path to qualification is still open, but it no longer depends solely on their performance.

How Pakistan Can Still Qualify

Scenario 1:
Pakistan must defeat Sri Lanka in their final Super 8 match. Additionally, Sri Lanka and England must both defeat New Zealand. Under this outcome, New Zealand would finish with only one point, Sri Lanka with two points, and Pakistan would advance to the semi-finals with three points.

Scenario 2:
If New Zealand win only one of their remaining matches, Pakistan could still qualify by defeating Sri Lanka by a large margin to surpass New Zealand’s net run rate. In this case, both teams could finish on three points, with qualification decided by net run rate.

Pakistan have a slight advantage in scheduling, as they play their final match after New Zealand. This timing could allow them to calculate the exact margin of victory needed to qualify.

Match Recap: England vs Pakistan

England secured the victory thanks to an outstanding performance from Harry Brook, who scored a brilliant century. Promoted to No. 3, Brook became the first captain to score a hundred in a T20 World Cup, guiding England to chase down the 165-run target with five balls to spare.

Earlier, Pakistan posted 164 for nine in 20 overs. Sahibzada Farhan led the batting effort with a fluent 63 off 45 balls, while Fakhar Zaman contributed 25 off 16. Shadab Khan added late momentum with 23 from 11 deliveries. England spinner Liam Dawson played a key role with figures of 3 for 24.

In response, Pakistan’s bowling attack, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, kept the contest tight. Afridi claimed four wickets, including Phil Salt and Jos Buttler, while Usman Tariq chipped in with two wickets.

Despite early breakthroughs and pressure in the middle overs, Pakistan were unable to defend the total in the final stages, as England sealed the win in the last over.

What Lies Ahead

Pakistan’s semi-final hopes now hinge on other match results and net run rate calculations. Their final Super 8 fixture against Sri Lanka will be decisive.

Cricket fans will closely follow the remaining Group 2 matches, as qualification scenarios remain open and could shift dramatically based on upcoming results.