Team Director Seeks 'Divine Help' To Save Pakistan's Cricket World Cup 2023 Semifinals Dream

The race for the semi-finals have intensified. Three teams - Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan - are on eight points from as many matches. With only one spot left in the top-four, the three side's last game will be crucial. Not even a win may be enough if the other team is ahead on run-rate. Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur sought "divine help" on Monday as the 1992 champions braced for one last push to squeeze into the World Cup semi-finals before piling on the praise for "game-changing" opener Fakhar Zaman. Pakistan have recorded back-to-back wins over Bangladesh and New Zealand to reignite their campaign with Zaman returning from a knee injury to hit 81 and then a blistering 81-ball 126 not out against the Kiwis. With eight points from as many games, Pakistan not only need to beat England in their last game in Kolkata on Saturday but also hope New Zealand lose to Sri Lanka in Bengaluru two days earlier or that the match is washed out.

Afghanistan can also edge out Pakistan depending on result in the last match.

"Who knows how we are going to go in this competition," said Arthur, who is in his second stint in charge of Pakistan after a spell between 2016-2019.

"I have a real feeling we're going to get to the semi-finals but let's see what happens. What we do know is that it will in our hands come Saturday.

"With a little bit of divine help, we can get to the semi-final but we have to play well. We played the perfect game once, I think, and that was against Bangladesh."

If Pakistan do qualify they will likely set up a mouth-watering clash with arch-rivals India in Kolkata on November 16 for a place in the final.

Arthur hailed the match-winning displays of Zaman.

"Since Fakhar has come in he has just been