World Cup 2023: Pakistan can reach semi-finals but will be one-sided affair if they take on India, reckons Mohammad Kaif

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes Pakistan still have a chance to make the semi-finals of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, but thinks that should they face the Men in Blue, that clash could end up being one-sided.

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Pakistan clinched a crucial 21-run win over New Zealand in a rain-marred contest in Bengaluru, and remain in contention for the semi-finals with their final league game against England scheduled for Saturday.

However, with New Zealand and Afghanistan playing catch up in the points table, Pakistan’s task will be cut out.

“They can reach but it will be a one-sided affair. I am opening the pages of history, what has happened. India have defeated them easily,” Kaif told on Star Sports.

The 42-year-old added that Babar Azam and Co will need to beat England by a big margin. “However, Pakistan have the chance. If they play a good match and defeat England, the net-run-rate issue will be there, so they can reach there with a big win,”  added the former right-handed batter.

Pakistan have never beaten India in an ODI World Cup contest. When the two teams locked horns in the league stage contest of the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad on 14 October, the hosts went onto win by seven wickets following a stupendous display from the bowlers and fifties from Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer.

India, meanwhile, qualified for the semi-finals with a win over Sri Lanka in Mumbai on 2 November. Rohit Sharma’s men are unbeaten in the tournament and face Netherlands in Bengaluru on Sunday (12 November) in their final league stage match.