The fate of Sri Lanka's Champions Trophy 2025 qualification hangs in the balance as they face New Zealand in their final match of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.
The Sri Lankan team finds themselves in a do-or-die situation, needing a victory against the formidable Black Caps to keep their hopes alive for a spot in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
The ongoing World Cup has seen four teams—England, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands—vying for the two remaining spots alongside the already-qualified teams—India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Sri Lanka's assistant coach, Naveed Nawaz, acknowledged the challenging situation the team faces but emphasised the importance of focusing on what they can control, which is the upcoming match against New Zealand.
"We should control the controllables right now," Nawaz stated. "The only control that we have in this tournament is the game tomorrow. We cannot focus on the matches that we have played and finished, or we cannot focus on anything that is happening back home. So, I guess the way to go forward is to put our energies, put our focus on the game tomorrow, and try and do the best to our ability."
A win against New Zealand would give Sri Lanka six points, placing them in contention for qualification based on their net run rate. However, their fate will also depend on the outcomes of the remaining matches, particularly the results of England and Bangladesh.
If England and Bangladesh lose their remaining matches or end with a lower net run rate than Sri Lanka, the Lankans could secure their place in the 2025 Champions Trophy. However, if any of those teams win and improve their net run rate, Sri Lanka's chances will diminish.
The Sri Lankan team understand the magnitude of the task ahead but remains determined to give it their all in their final match against New Zealand. A victory will keep their Champions Trophy hopes alive, while a defeat will bring their World Cup campaign to an end.
