Miracles do happen. Ask Babar Azam and he will testify.

Having been done in by a Virat Kohli classic in their T20 World Cup opener in Melbourne, Pakistan felt the repercussions in their next match losing to Zimbabwe by one run. A semi-final berth looked a distant dream.
Their chances seemed remote on the final day of the Super 12s. South Africa’s equation was the simplest: beat The Netherlands and go through. Going by the teams’ rankings and their form, it looked pretty straightforward. Even New Zealand, who made the last-four stage from Group 1, were preparing for Temba Bavuma’s men assuming India would top the group.

It never seemed feasible by any stretch of imagination that South Africa could lose in Adelaide. Besides the conditions, which were considered to have suited them, they were in good rhythm. From dark horses, they were suddenly the title contenders.

They scored 51 in three overs against Zimbabwe in their abandoned opener in Hobart, they mauled Bangladesh by 104 runs, their fast bowlers brought India down to earth on a pacy Perth wicket before Pakistan stopped them in a rain-marred contest. But they still looked a formidable outfit. Yet, when they crashed to a 13-run victory in a sleepy Adelaide on Sunday morning, the chokers’ tag returned to paralyse them. Memories of Sydney 1992, Birmingham 1999, Dhaka 2011, Auckland 2015 came flooding back.

The Netherlands players’ joy knows no bounds after stunning South Africa in their T20 World Cup game in Adelaide on Sunday. AP/PTI

Thirty years ago in Australia, a ragged Pakistan team under Imran Khan, which was on the verge of elimination during the preliminary rounds, transformed itself into a champion side. Every match was like a sudden death for them after having lost three of their first five games. Another against England was abandoned. But Imran converted his rag-tag unit into an invincible band.

Having confirmed a semis berth, can Babar recreate the same magic Down Under?