The Pakistan vs. New Zealand clash in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023, slated for November 4 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore faces a looming threat from anticipated rain.
The Pakistan vs. New Zealand clash match is set to kick off at 10am and rain is expected to start intermittently from 11am.
Weather forecasts are indicating a significant 70% to 80% chance of rain during Saturday afternoon in Bengaluru which could potentially impact the game's outcome.
Pakistan desperately needs a convincing victory against New Zealand this week. A win by 84 runs would push Pakistan ahead of New Zealand in the tournament standings. Chasing down the target in 35 overs could also give them an advantage.
In the unfortunate event of a match washout due to bad weather, both teams would receive one point each. However, it's important to note that a washout wouldn't affect net run rate calculations.
Meanwhile, South Africa's 190-run victory over New Zealand in the 32nd match has slightly boosted Pakistan's chances. Babar Azam and his team face a challenging path to the World Cup semi-finals with numerous obstacles along the way.
To secure a spot in the knockout stage, Pakistan must win their remaining matches. Ideally, they should defeat New Zealand in the next game and hope for a Black Caps loss to Sri Lanka.
If New Zealand loses their matches, they would conclude the group stage with eight points. Pakistan can qualify for the knockout stage with 10 points if they defeat their next two opponents.
Currently, Pakistan holds the fifth spot with six points, while New Zealand sits at fourth place with eight points.
