Asia Cup 2016: Points table and qualification scenario

India have qualified for the Asia Cup final, and now the wait is to find out who the other finalist will be. Bangladesh and Pakistan meet each other on Wednesday in a crucial encounter. If Bangladesh win, the equation is simple – Bangladesh follow India into the final.

However, if Bangladesh manage to lose to Pakistan, then the equation will go into the last day of league matches, and may even be decided on basis of net run rate.

This is what the Asia Cup 2016 T20 Points Table look like:

Position	Team	Matches	Won	Lost	Tie	NR	Points	Net RR
1	India	4	4	0	0	0	8	+2.020
2	Bangladesh	4	3	1	0	0	6	+0.457
3	Pakistan	4	2	2	0	0	4	-0.296
4	Sri Lanka	4	1	3	0	0	2	-0.293
5	United Arab Emirates	4	0	4	0	0	0	-1.813

Updated till Match 10, Pak vs SL, played on March 4, 2016.

UAE, despite trumping Afghanistan to play in the main stages of the Asia Cup, have not been able to cross the finish line in any of their matches. They will play their last match of the tournament against India, a match that will have no bearing on the final. It might even be used a match to test the bench strength at India’s disposal.

How Bangladesh can qualify – By beating Pakistan on Wednesday and rank higher in the points table

This will ensure that they finish the group matches at second spot with 6 points, out of reach of all other teams. However, they are without their star bowler Mustafizur Rahman. On the other hand, Pakistan’s pace quartet have hit all the right notes this season, and can destroy any batting order on a good day.

If the Pakistani batsmen can put in a good shift, they keep their team’s chances alive of meeting India in the final.

How Pakistan can qualify – By beating Bangladesh on Wednesday and Sri Lanka on Thursday and rank higher in the points table

If Pakistan manage to win their two remaining group stage fixtures, they automatically qualify for the final with 6 points. If they win against Bangladesh, their path becomes much clearer in any case. Even if the match against Sri Lanka is washed out, they will make it to second spot, with 5 points.

However, if they lose against Bangladesh, they have to play a final league match against Sri Lanka, for purposes of exhibition only.

How Sri Lanka can qualify – By hoping Pakistan beat Bangladesh convincingly on Wednesday, and by beating Pakistan on Thursday and rank higher in the points table

Sri Lanka’s campaign is virtually over in the Asia Cup, but they still stand an outside chance of qualifying for the final. Their opportunity will come about only if Bangladesh lose against Pakistan. This victory would need to be by a big margin because the hosts have the strongest net run rate among the three teams vying for qualification to the final.

If Sri Lanka also manage to win against Pakistan in their final group match, then all three teams will be tied on 4 points each, and net run rate will decide who goes into the final to meet India.