T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final: Can New Zealand overcome their knockout stage curse against Pakistan?

New Zealand and Pakistan are poised to play in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022's opening semifinal. The Men in Green were given a chance after South Africa lost to the Netherlands and Pakistan overcame Bangladesh to confirm their berth. As for the Kiwis, they had won their group and advanced to the Top 4.

All eyes will be on New Zealand and Pakistan, and everyone will be wondering if the BlackCaps will finally break their World Cup curse in 2022.

Three times, the Kiwis have advanced to the T20 World Cup semifinals. However, despite making it to the final twice and the semi-finals eight times in the 50-over format, they have never taken home the prize.

New Zealand is vying for the championship after making it to the final of the last two World Cups, the T20 World Cup in 2021 and the 50-over World Cup in 2019. They suffered a bizarre World Cup defeat to England in 2019 before losing to Australia in 2021.

However, Kane Williamson and his team have been given another opportunity, but they will first have to overcome Pakistan.

However, given that the team has never beaten Pakistan in a World Cup knockout game, this could be a very difficult challenge. The 1992 ODI World Cup semi-final, the 1999 ODI World Cup semi-final, and the 2007 T20 World Cup semi-finals saw the two teams square off, with Pakistan winning each time.

New Zealand 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: Runners-up after losing to Australia by 8 wickets in the final

New Zealand 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: Runners-up after losing to Australia by 7 wickets in the final

2019: Runners-up after losing to England in the final