Mohali: India&rsquo;s nail-biting last-ball win over Bangladesh on Wednesday in Bangalore has made the next two matches here at the PCA Stadium here very significant.
<img title="the last hurrah? Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi during a net session at the PCA Stadium Mohali yesterday. Pic/PTI" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/25afridi.jpg" alt="the last hurrah? Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi during a net session at the PCA Stadium Mohali yesterday. pic/pti" /> The last hurrah? Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi during a net session at the PCA Stadium Mohali yesterday. Pic/ PTI
With India, Australia and Pakistan all eyeing the second semi-final spot from Group 2, with New Zealand occupying the first with three wins out of three, all eyes will be on net run-rates now.
A win today for Pakistan against Australia will do a lot of good to their chances of qualifying for the semi. Pakistan, who have a better net run-rate (+0.254) than India (-0.546), will then hope Australia beat India on Sunday which means Shahid Afridi &amp; Co can progress to the semis via better net run-rate.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/captains.jpg" alt="" />
However, if Australia wins, it will be curtains for Pakistan and the last Super 10 league match between the Aussies and the Indians will be a knockout, with the winner making the semis. Any slip-up now from any of the three teams could prove costly, but Australia skipper Steve Smith prefers to keep it simple &mdash; win the next two matches and leave the rest to the statisticians. &ldquo;We are playing in a World Cup, so there&rsquo;s always pressure there. That (India&rsquo;s win) made the equation pretty simple for us. We have to win our next two games &mdash; as simple as that. We are playing two quality oppositions in Pakistan and India. So yeah, we have to be better than what we have been this far,&rdquo; Smith said on the eve of the clash.
Meanwhile, Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik tried to water down coach Waqar Younis&rsquo; recent comments. After Pakistan&rsquo;s shoddy batting display against New Zealand, Younis had said that the way they&rsquo;re playing, Afridi&rsquo;s side do not deserve to go through to the semis.
Malik insisted winning is all that matters now. &ldquo;When you lose, you&rsquo;re disappointed. In the heat of the moment, even wise people can say or do unwise things. I&rsquo;m sure Waqar didn&rsquo;t mean to say that. We are professionals. We have to give 100 per cent. This is our opportunity. This is a big event. Our first goal is to win tomorrow,&rdquo; said Malik.

Pakistan will miss the X-factor after Afridi quits: Ramiz Raja

Australia skipper Steven Smith and Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik have just victory on their minds today

WT20: Australia take on Pakistan today

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WT20: Australia take on Pakistan today

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