T20 World Cup 2024: Canada’s Qualification Scenarios – Can they reach Super 8 after loss to Pakistan?

Canada clashed with Pakistan in Match 22 of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 at the Nassau County Stadium in New York on Tuesday, June 11. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first. Both sides made one change each with Pakistan leaving out Iftikhar Ahmed for Saim Ayub and Canada bringing in Ravinderpal Singh for Dilpreet Bajwa.

Canada got off to a flying start before Mohammad Amir put the brakes on the opening partnership by dismissing Navneet Dhaliwal in the third over with the score being 20/1. Unfortunately for Canada, no other proper batter to follow could do much as all of them were dismissed for single-digit scores. However, while wickets fell at one end, Aaron Johnson stood like a rock at the other, scoring a solid 52 runs off 44 balls hitting four fours and as many sixes. For Pakistan, Mohammad Amir and Haris Rauf picked up two wickets each. Canada finished the innings on 106/7 in their 20 overs.

Pakistan’s chase began on a sedate note. Saim Ayub was dismissed cheaply for just six runs in the fifth over with the score reading 20/1. However, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam put on a match-defining 63-run partnership before the latter was dismissed by Heyliger for his second wicket. Fakhar Zaman tried to finish the match early but he was dismissed for four runs in the 18th over. Later, Rizwan who scored an unbeaten run-a-ball 53 and Usman Khan saw Pakistan home with seven wickets in hand and 15 balls remaining. For Canada, Dilon Heyliger was the standout bowler with figures of 2/18 off his four overs.

Also Read: CAN vs PAK – Who Said What?

What does Canada need to do to qualify for the T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 round?

Canada have a tough task ahead for them in order to qualify for the next round. With two defeats out of three matches played and just one to go against India, they have their task cut out. Winning against India is necessary but it will not be easy. Not only that, they need to win it big to give themselves a good chance of progressing to the Super 8 round as their NRR is – 0.439.

On the other hand, they will have to rely on other results to a large extent. USA losing to India, Ireland defeating Pakistan and USA are the outcomes Canada would want for them to have a chance. It will then be a matter of whose NRR is better. If the aforementioned results do not transpire, Canada will have great difficulty in finishing second in the group and thereby going through to the next round.