T20 World Cup: What are Pakistan’s qualification chances after defeat to India?

India secured a commanding 61-run victory over Pakistan in their ICC Men's T20 World Cup encounter in Colombo.

The match, played at R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday, did not live up to the hype of a tight contest. Pakistan appear to have made a few tactical errors after they chose to bowl first on a surface that was expected to get slower later in the game — a call that raised questions given their depth in spin bowling.

With the victory, India stretched their unbeaten streak in T20 World Cups to 12 matches and further tightened their grip in the rivalry’s World Cup history, improving their overall head-to-head record to 16 wins against just one defeat.

For Pakistan, it increased the pressure heading into their final group-stage fixture, leaving their qualification hopes hanging in the balance. They sit third in Group A, trailing India, who lead with six points from three wins, and the United States national cricket team, who have collected four points from four outings.

Pakistan themselves have four points from three matches and are set to face Namibia national cricket team on Wednesday. However, the scale of the defeat has significantly dented their net run rate, which dropped from positive territory to minus 0.403, pushing them below the USA, whose net run rate stands at 0.788.

As things stand, Pakistan must beat Namibia to ensure progress to the next stage. A defeat would leave them level on points with the USA but behind on net run rate, effectively ending their campaign. A washout, however, would take them to five points — enough to move through to the Super 8 phase.