After securing two consecutive victories, India and the USA are poised to battle for Super 8 qualification on Wednesday in Nassau County, New York. Both teams have maintained an unbeaten streak thus far in the tournament. The USA, making their debut in the T20 World Cup, initiated their campaign with a resounding triumph over Canada in the tournament opener, followed by a remarkable victory over Pakistan in a thrilling Super Over.
In contrast, India has leaned heavily on their bowling prowess to remain undefeated in the tournament. Despite setting a modest target of 120 runs, they managed to outfox Pakistan after a comfortable win against Ireland.
Leading the Group A points table with a superior Net Run Rate, the Indian team faces off against the USA, currently placed second. Their encounter on Wednesday holds immense significance, as the victory will secure a coveted Super 8 berth, while the defeated side will need to clinch a win in their last group stage fixture. However, the game’s proceedings at the Nassau County Stadium in New York are expected to be affected by the weather.
If adverse weather conditions lead to the game’s abandonment, both teams will receive one point each. While this scenario ensures India and the USA advance to the next round with 5 points each, it effectively ends Pakistan’s chances of qualification. Despite Pakistan’s victory over Canada following losses to the USA and India, their total points will only reach 4, leaving them short of a Super 8 spot if India vs USA fixture is cancelled.
Similarly, Canada, positioned fourth on the table, faces a comparable situation. Their remaining fixture against India on June 15 offers limited scope for accumulating more points. Meanwhile, Ireland, currently at the bottom of the table with zero points, has two matches remaining against Pakistan and the USA.
With the realization that the last three teams in Group A cannot accumulate more than 4 points in the event of a cancelled game, supporters of Pakistan, Canada, and Ireland are likely to hope for uninterrupted action in New York on June 12.