How Bangladesh can make the semis

Sri Lanka, thanks to the magic of their ageless Lasith Malinga, have opened up the door for themselves and teams outside the top four to still stand a mathematical chance of making it in the semi finals of the World Cup, by defeating hosts England on Friday.

This means that Bangladesh, who were defeated by Australia on Thursday, could still make the semi finals even if they don’t win all of their three remaining matches.

England

England will next face Australia, India and New Zealand. Given England’s recent record at World Cups, they could lose all three games and be stuck on eight points.

Bangladesh would then have to win two games to go from five points to nine points and that would be enough to make it given Sri Lanka, West Indies, Pakistan and South Africa don’t get equal or more points.

Sri Lanka

The Lankans will be taking on South Africa, West Indies and India in their three remaining matches.

If they don’t win any games, they would be on six points and the maximum points they can afford to take, to have Bangladesh going to the top four is two.

West Indies

The Windies are on just three points but still have four games remaining - New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan.

Even if they win two matches, they will be on seven points and that won’t be enough for them to make the top four.

Preferably, a win against Sri Lanka would be important to Bangladesh’s chances.

Pakistan

Pakistan are on three points from five games and next face South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Just like the Windies, even two wins will not be enough from the next four games as they will then have seven points.

Bangladesh will be hoping to beat them but they won’t mind if Pakistan defeat New Zealand and eliminated Afghanistan.

South Africa

The Proteas are on three points from six games and have games against Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia left.

Two wins would take them to seven points, which would not be enough.

Bangladesh would want them to get a win against Sri Lanka, and Pakistan but no more than that to ensure two wins for the Tigers takes them through.

There are still a lot of games left to go and there will be more twists and turns on the way, especially with rain and the potential of matches being abandoned because of it being a factor.

None of the teams apart from Afghanistan have been virtually eliminated while Australia will feel that a loss in all of their remaining fixtures would still get them a top four finish as they are on ten points.