Despite losing the last five Tests, Pakistan can still qualify for the WTC 2025 final. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Despite losing the two-match Test series at home against Bangladesh and dropping to No. 8 position in the WTC 2023-25 points table, Pakistan is still alive in the race to qualify for the WTC 2025 final.
Pakistan suffered a shocking defeat by six wickets against Bangladesh on Tuesday (September 3) in the second Test of the two-match series played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. It was a must-win match for the Shan Masood-led side after it went down by 10 wickets in the series opener played at the same venue last month, but the hosts once again produced a flop show. The defeat in the second match not only led Pakistan to lose a Test series for the first time ever against Bangladesh, but it also hampered its hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final.
After losing five matches in a row, Pakistan sits at No. 8 position in the WTC 2023-25 points table. But they are still alive in the race to qualify for the WTC 2025 final, which is set to take place at Lord’s in June 2025.
According to the WTC rules, the top two teams qualify for the final, and despite getting whitewashed in the last two red-ball series, Pakistan can still finish in the top two. But for that, they have to win all the matches of their remaining three series of the ongoing WTC cycle, and in addition to that, keep a close eye on the results of other teams.
Pakistan will next face England in a three-match Test series at home, which will begin on October 7 in Multan. The next two Tests are scheduled to take place in Karachi (October 15-19) and Rawalpindi (October 24-28).
After the English series, Pakistan will travel to South Africa for a two-match Test series in December 2024-January 2025 and then face the West Indies in a two-match Test series at home in January 2025.
Pakistan, which has 19.05 PCT% at present, will have 59.52 PCT% if they manage to win all seven upcoming Tests.
India sits at No. 1 position in the WTC points table as of now with 68.52 PCT%, followed by Australia at 62.50 PCT%. Pakistan can’t finish above both of them at the moment, but since India and Australia have to face each other in a five-match series later this year, there will be a change in the points table, and that can give Pakistan a chance to finish in the top-two.
But if Pakistan fail to win any of the remaining seven Tests, then their chances of qualifying will face a big blow, and they will get knocked out.