Hanging by a thread: Pakistan’s do-or-die shot at T20 World Cup semis against Sri Lanka

WEB DESK: Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal hopes are hanging by a thread, but, it’s a green thread, and Pakistan has seen this team pull off miracles before.

After England cricket team sealed their last-four spot with a win over New Zealand national cricket team, the equation is simple: Pakistan are still alive… just barely.

Sitting on one point with a net run rate of -0.461, Pakistan now face hosts Sri Lanka national cricket team in what is essentially a quarterfinal disguised as a Super 8 game at Pallekele. Sri Lanka may be out of contention — but for Pakistan, it’s do-or-die.

First things first: win. No win, no semis. Even a washout would send Pakistan packing. But here’s where it gets spicy. Even with a victory, Salman Ali Agha’s men must leapfrog New Zealand’s superior net run rate. That means going big — really big. If Pakistan bat first, they’ll need a win by at least 64 runs. If they chase, they’ll have to gun down the target inside 13.1 overs (depending on totals).

In short: calculators out, seatbelts on. It’s a long shot. It’s dramatic. It’s classic Pakistan. And if there’s one thing this team loves, it’s a semifinal sneak-in against the odds.