All of the top four spots to earn a spot in the knockout stage are still up for grabs, as we look at each side’s path to a semi-final berth in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
The race for a place in the knockout stage of Cricket World Cup 2023 remains wide open with all but one side is still in contention, while no team has yet locked in their place in the semi-finals.
India are the best placed to clinch a semi-final berth after their six consecutive wins, as only Bangladesh are out of contention.
South Africa, New Zealand and Australia join hosts India in the critical top-four spots for now, but with 14 group stage games to play almost every team is still in the hunt.
Here’s what each team needs to do – and the other results it needs to achieve – to finish in the top four and qualify for the knockout stage:
Won: 6
Loss: 1
Net run rate: +2.290
Play more: India (5 November), Afghanistan (10 November)
Qualification method:
* Win at least one of their remaining two games to finish with 14+ points and guarantee qualification
* Lose both of their remaining matches, and finish with one better net run rate than at least one of the four other teams (India, New Zealand, Australia, Afghanistan) who also reach 12 points
Video
CWC23
27 Oct 23
South Africa beat spirited Pakistan by one wicket | Match Highlights | CWC23
Highlights of the match as Pakistan battled through several stages but it was South Africa who ultimately won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
Won: 6
Loss: 0
Net run rate: +1.405
Play more: Sri Lanka (2 November), South Africa (5 November), Netherlands (12 November)
Qualification method:
* Win at least one of the three remaining matches to finish with 14+ points and guarantee qualification
* Do not win at least one of the three remaining matches, and finish the best net run rate than at least one of the four other teams (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Afghanistan) who also reach 12 points
Video
CWC23
29 Oct 23
India beat England for sixth straight win | Match Highlights | CWC23
Highlights of the match as Rohit Sharma’s 87 guided India to a decent total on a soft surface, before their bowlers turn the screw against England in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
Won: 4
Loss: 2
Net run rate: +0.970
Play more: England (4 November), Afghanistan (7 November), Bangladesh (11 November)
Qualification method:
* Win all three remaining matches to finish on 14 points and guarantee qualification
* Win two of the three remaining matches, and finish with one better net run rate than at least one of the four other teams (India, South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan) who also reach 12 points
* Win one of the three remaining matches, and finish with a better net run rate than many other teams can also finish with 10 points
Video
cook19
28 Oct 23
Every ball in the thrilling final of the Australia-New Zealand run-fest | CWC23
Final-over thriller as New Zealand need 19 runs from six balls to overtake Australia’s mammoth total in ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
Won: 4
Loss: 3
Net run rate: +0.484
Play more: Pakistan (4 November), Sri Lanka (9 November)
Qualification method:
* Win their remaining matches, and finish with a better one net run rate than at least one of the four other teams (India, South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan) who also reach 12 points
* Win one of their remaining two matches, and finish with a better net run rate than many other teams can also finish with 10 points
Won: 3
Loss: 4
Net run rate: -0.024
Play more: New Zealand (4 November), England (11 November)
Qualification method:
* Win the two remaining matchesand end up with a better net run rate than many other teams can also finish with 10 points
* Win one of the two remaining matches, Australia have lost all three of their remaining matches, New Zealand have lost two of their remaining matches, while Afghanistan have lost at least two of their remaining three matches, and finish at a better net run rate than many other teams can also finish with 8 points
To defeat New Zealand’s NRR, Pakistan need to win by approximately 83 runs or chase in approximately 35 overs against New Zealand. But both teams have one more game after this to have a new scenario in NRR in the previous group match.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 1, 2023
Video
CWC23
31 Oct 23
Complete performance gives Pakistan comfortable win | Match Highlights | CWC23
Pakistan bowled out Bangladesh for 204 before chasing down the target in the 33rd over.
Won: 3
Loss: 3
Net run rate: -0.718
Play more: Netherlands (3 November), Australia (7 November), South Africa (10 November)
Qualification method:
* Win at least one but preferably all three remaining matches to finish with up to 12 points
* Increase net run rate enough to overtake New Zealand, Australia and/or any other team finishing with the same number of points
Video
CWC23
31 Oct 23
Inside Rashid Khan’s motivational speech before Afghanistan’s win over Sri Lanka | CWC23
Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan gives a motivational pre-match speech ahead of his 100th ODI appearance during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
Won: 2
Loss: 4
Net run rate: -0.275
Play more: India (2 November), Bangladesh (6 November), New Zealand (9 November)
Qualification method:
* Win at least two but preferably all three remaining games to finish with up to 10 points
* Increase net run rate enough to overtake New Zealand, Australia and/or any other team finishing with the same number of points
* New Zealand and/or Australia must lose at least two of their remaining three matches
Video
CWC23
27 Oct 23
Sri Lanka beat England to keep World Cup hopes alive | Match Highlights | CWC23
Highlights of the match as Sri Lanka produced a strong performance in Bengaluru and marched to an eight-wicket victory over England in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
Won: 2
Loss: 4
Net run rate: -1.277
Play more: Afghanistan (3 November), England (8 November), India (12 November)
Qualification method:
* Win at least two but preferably all three remaining games to finish with up to 10 points
* Increase net run rate enough to overtake New Zealand, Australia and/or any other team finishing with the same number of points
* New Zealand and/or Australia must lose at least two of their remaining three matches
Video
CWC23
28 Oct 23
Netherlands dominate Bangladesh for second win | Digital Daily: Episode 28 | CWC23
Digital Daily as Dirk Nannes, Athar Ali Khan and ICC Digital Insider Radhakrishnan look back at Netherlands’ victory over Bangladesh in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
Won: 1
Loss: 6
Net run rate: -1.446
Play more: Sri Lanka (6 November), Australia (11 November)
Qualification method:
* Will not qualify for the knockout stage
Video
CWC23
07 Oct 23
Shakib, Mehidy lead Bangladesh to victory over Afghanistan | Match Highlights | CWC23
Match highlights as Bangladesh put up a strong performance against Afghanistan to open their account at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
Won: 1
Loss: 5
Net run rate: -1.652
Play more: Australia (4 November), Netherlands (8 November), Pakistan (11 November)
Qualification method:
* Win all three remaining matches to finish with 8 points
* Increase the net run rate enough to overtake New Zealand, Australia and/or any team that finishes 8 points
* New Zealand and/or Australia must lose all three of their remaining matches
* Not more than one of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands will finish with 10 points