How Babar Azam-led Pakistan can still qualify for World Test Championship final despite humiliating whitewash by England

The successive losses saw Pakistan fall from a position of stronghold in the World Test Championship points table to the seventh spot. But it seems, Pakistan still have hope alive, with a very slender chance.

Pakistan on Tuesday suffered a humiliating eight-wicket loss in Karachi against England. For the first time ever in Test history have they been blanked on home soil and lost four consecutive Tests - one against Australia (also at home) and three against England. The successive losses saw Pakistan fall from a position of stronghold in the World Test Championship points table to the seventh spot. But it seems, Pakistan still have hope alive, with a very slender chance.

Pakistan's skipper Babar Azam, left,, Mohammad Rizwan, center, and Sarfraz Ahmed (AP)

Pakistan had the best chance to make the World Test Championship final for the first time with five matches lined-up at home - three against England and two against New Zealand, which are yet to be played. Pakistan stood in the third spot in the table, ahead of India before the start of the England series. But a 3-0 whitewash saw them fall to the seventh spot, below Sri Lanka and West Indies, with a PCT of just 38.99.

Pakistan however can still make the World Test Championship final but a lot of their chances depend on other factors with top-placed Australia being their best bet. Pakistan will have to register a clean sweep against New Zealand at home, with series happening later this month, which will take their win-percentage to as high as 47.62 per cent. That would be enough to place Pakistan in the second spot only if the following factors fall in place...

1) Pakistan will be mostly relying on Australia to pave their road to the final. They need the Pat Cummins-led side to continue their dominance over South Africa and then against India as well in the Test series next month in the sub-continent.

2) Pakistan also need Bangladesh to stun India in the Mirpur Test which begins from December 22 onwards.

3) They will need New Zealand to blank Sri Lanka in the Test series in March 2023.

4) Pakistan would finally need West Indies to whitewash South Africa or script victory in one of the two Tests and draw the other.

England, on the other hand, despite the historic 3-0 win, are out of contention for a place in the WTC final as they end their 2021/23 cycle.