Coin tosses have been an integral part of cricket over the years. Be it limited overs or the longest format of the game, the flip of a coin has been influential in deciding the outcome of a cricket match. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is, in fact, mulling to do away with coin tosses in Test matches, considering the extent to which it can influence results.

On Friday at the ICC Cricket World Cup, in one of the rarest occasions, the flip of the coin at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s can not just influence but decide the outcome of a cricket match. Pakistan cricket team can be at the receiving end of a such an outcome in their must-win World Cup 2019 match against Bangladesh in London.

Pakistan are mathematically still in the race to reach the semi-final of the quadrennial tournament in London. They are currently at the 5th spot with 9 points and a negative net run rate of -0.792. For Pakistan to reach the top-four, they need to displace New Zealand who are currently at the 4th spot with 11 points and a positive net run rate of +0.175.

The difference in net run rate is so much so that Pakistan have no chance if qualifying if they bowl first against Bangladesh. Even if they chase down a total set by Bangladesh in the first over of their innings, it is not going to be enough for them.

If Sarfaraz Ahmed loses the coin toss later in the day at Lord’s, Pakistan chances of reaching the semi-final will come to an end.

Even if Pakistan win the toss and opt to bat, they need a miracle to leapfrog New Zealand and reach the top-four of World Cup 2019.

If Pakistan bat first, they need to beat Bangladesh by 311 runs after posting 350 to reach the semi-final.

or

beat Bangladesh by 316 runs after scoring 400

or

beat Bangladesh by 321 runs after scoring 450.

No team has managed to win by a margin of over 300 runs in the World Cup history. The highest margin of win so far is Australia’s 275-run win over Afghanistan in the 2015 edition of World Cup.

Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed conceded Pakistan are facing an uphil task in Friday’s encounter vs Bangladesh but said his team will go out and give their best at Lord’s.

“We will do our best to win the last game as well to end on a high and we will do our best to achieve that but we need to be realistic, but if Allah helps then miracles can happen,” Sarfaraz Ahmed said.

“It’s like you score 600, 500, 400 on a pitch then you think you can get the other team out for 50 and then win by a 316-run margin. If you think realistically, then we can only try. But the first real thing will be to win the match.”