‘Nahi Hone Wala’: Virender Sehwag Dismantles Pakistan’s Semi-Final Hopes
Former India opener Virender Sehwag has delivered a scathing assessment of Pakistan’s chances to reach the T20 World Cup semi-finals, explicitly ruling out the possibility of the "Men in Green" pulling off the statistical miracle required to advance. Known for his straightforward commentary, Sehwag analyzed the daunting Net Run Rate (NRR) equations facing the team, concluding that their batting lineup lacks the firepower to achieve the necessary margins of victory.
The Impossible Equation
Following England’s victory over New Zealand in the Super 8 stage, Pakistan remains mathematically alive but faces a logistical nightmare. To overhaul New Zealand’s Net Run Rate and secure a semi-final berth, Pakistan must not only defeat Sri Lanka but do so with margins that border on the impossible in modern T20 cricket.
During a statistical breakdown on Cricbuzz, the specific qualification scenarios were outlined, highlighting the steep mountain Pakistan must climb:
| Scenario | Requirement for Qualification |
|---|---|
| Batting First | If Pakistan scores 160, they must win by at least 65 runs. |
| Chasing | If chasing 160, they must reach the target within 13.2 overs. |
Sehwag’s Verdict: ‘Read Further’
When the show’s anchor presented the scenario of Pakistan batting first and defending a total by a massive margin, Sehwag interrupted with his trademark bluntness.
“Nahi hone wala. Aage padh (It won’t happen, read further),” Sehwag remarked, dismissing the idea that Pakistan’s bowlers could restrict Sri Lanka so cheaply after posting a par score.
The conversation then shifted to the chase scenario, typically Pakistan’s stronger suit. However, Sehwag remained unimpressed by the prospect of the team chasing 160 at over 12 runs per over from the start.
“Wo bhi nahi hone wala (That too won’t happen),” he added. “It won’t happen, that’s what I was saying. It is not that easy for Pakistan.”
Analyzing the Batting Woes
Sehwag elaborated that for Pakistan to qualify, Sri Lanka would essentially need to capitulate. He argued that Pakistan’s current batting struggles make high-scoring dominance unlikely. The team has struggled to post scores above 160 consistently, making the requirement to win by 60+ runs or chase in 13 overs unrealistic.
“If they somehow qualify, very good. But if they score 160 and then win by 60 runs, Sri Lanka would have to play some poor cricket,” Sehwag explained. “They would need to be bowled out for 90, which is not possible. Chasing the total down in 13.2 overs is theoretically possible, but their batting is not built like that.”
Sehwag pointed out the logical fallacy in expecting a team struggling for rhythm to suddenly produce an explosive performance.
“Pakistan are anyway not able to score 160, how will they chase the total down in 14 overs? It will be tough,” he concluded.
Super 8 Group Standings
With England already securing the top spot in Group 2 of the Super 8 stage, the final spot rests on this NRR battle. While fans hold onto hope, analysts like Sehwag view the exit as inevitable given the statistical demands.