Pakistan’s chance to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final remain alive, but only just. Despite a rocky journey marked by a historic series defeat to Bangladesh and a tough loss to England, a recent turn of events has kept Pakistan’s hopes alive, although they face a steep and challenging path. To secure a spot, Pakistan must not only win all their remaining matches but also hope for favorable results from other teams in the competition.

Pakistan’s remarkable comeback and current standings

Following a series of disappointing results, Pakistan bounced back with a 2-1 series win over England at home, moving from eighth to seventh place in the WTC standings. This alone wasn’t enough, but the competition was turned on its head when New Zealand delivered a stunning performance, defeating India 2-0 in a three-Test series on Indian soil. With this result, Pakistan remains mathematically in the race, though their chances hinge on achieving a perfect record in their remaining matches and seeing other results fall in their favor.

Currently, India and Australia lead the standings, with India’s lead narrowing to a mere 0.32 percentage points (PCT). New Zealand’s victories have elevated them to fourth place with a 50.00 PCT, while Pakistan stands at seventh with a 33.33 PCT.

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What Pakistan need to qualify

For Pakistan to reach the WTC final, they must win all four of their remaining Test matches—two away against South Africa and two at home against the West Indies. A clean sweep would elevate Pakistan’s PCT to 52.38, yet this alone won’t be sufficient. Their qualification still depends on other top teams like India, Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and South Africa losing key matches, which would open up the standings enough for Pakistan to squeeze into the top two.

The journey ahead is challenging, but Pakistan’s recent success against England and New Zealand’s unexpected triumph over India have reignited their WTC ambitions. For now, Pakistan remains in the conversation as they gear up to fight for the elusive final spot.