T20 World Cup: Can New Zealand overcome their World Cup curse and triumph in Australia?

All eyes will be on New Zealand as they take on Pakistan in the first semi-final of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The BlackCaps have looked a formidable side in Australia, but will the World Cup jinx come into play yet again, or will this finally be their year? Only time will tell.

New Zealand have never lifted the World Cup (AP)

By India Today Web Desk: All eyes will be on New Zealand as they take on Pakistan in the first semi-final of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The BlackCaps have looked a formidable side in Australia, but will the World Cup jinx come into play yet again, or will this finally be their year? Only time will tell.

The Kiwis have reached the semi-final stage of the T20 World Cup three times in the past, making it to the final in the 2021 edition, where they lost against Australia. Meanwhile, they’ve managed to get to the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup eight times, and the final twice, but have never got their hands on the trophy.

T20 World Cup 2022: Full Coverage

In fact, the Kiwis have reached the final of the last two World Cups, namely the 2019 50-over World Cup and the 2021 T20 World Cup. They lost to England in the 2019 World Cup while going down against Australia in 2021. However, New Zealand have been presented with another chance to lift the World Cup trophy for the very first time, with Pakistan as the penultimate hurdle.

🏆🏏🇳🇿🇵🇰 Who wins – and why? 🤔💭 #T20WorldCup Semi-Final 1: @blackcaps v Pakistan | Wednesday 8.30pm LIVE on Sky Sport 3! 🔥 #SkySportNZ 📸 @photosportnz pic.twitter.com/TpZpYfBAn0— Sky Sport NZ (@skysportnz) November 8, 2022

However, the BlackCaps have never defeated Pakistan in a World Cup knockout match, having met them thrice in World Cup semi-finals. Pakistan came out on top in the 1992 ODI World Cup semifinal, the 1999 ODI World Cup semifinal, and the 2007 T20 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand.

New Zealand’s performances in T20 World Cups

2007 T20 World Cup: Eliminated in the semi-finals after losing to Pakistan by 6 wickets

2009 T20 World Cup: Did not qualify for knockout stages

2010 T20 World Cup: Did not qualify for knockout stages

2012 T20 World Cup: Did not qualify for knockout stages

2014 T20 World Cup: Did not qualify for knockout stages

2016 T20 World Cup: Eliminated in the semi-finals after losing to England by 7 wickets

2021 T20 World Cup: Finished runners-up after losing to Australia by 8 wickets in the final

The path to the @T20WorldCup finals! Follow play tomorrow against @TheRealPCB LIVE in NZ with @skysportnz and @SENZ_Radio. #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/IY5eeSmsZb— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 8, 2022

New Zealand’s performance in ODI World Cups

1975: Eliminated in the semi-finals after losing to West Indies by 5 wickets

1979: Eliminated in the semi-finals after losing to England by 9 runs

1983: Did not qualify for knockout stages

1987: Did not qualify for knockout stages

1992: Eliminated in the semi-finals after losing to Pakistan by 4 wickets

1996: Did not qualify for knockout stages

1999: Eliminated in the semi-finals after losing to Pakistan by 9 wickets

2003: Did not qualify for knockout stages

2007: Eliminated in the semi-finals after losing to Sri Lanka by 81 runs

2011: Eliminated in the semi-finals after losing to Sri Lanka by 5 wickets

2015: Finished runners-up after losing to Australia by 7 wickets in the final

2019: Finished runners-up after losing to England in the final

Kane Williamson and co. will be looking to put their past performances behind them when they face Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground on November 9.