World Cup 2023: Pakistan Team Director Mickey Arthur seeks 'divine intervention' ahead of crucial England clash

Pakistan’s World Cup hopes hang by a threat and Team Director Mickey Arthur’s busy praying for “divine intervention” ahead of their final league match against England on Saturday.

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Pakistan managed to keep their slim hopes of reaching the semi-finals of this year’s ICC World Cup alive with a miraculous victory over New Zealand in Bengaluru. They emerged victors despite the Kiwis racking up a total of 401, thanks primarily to Fakhar Zaman’s breathtaking 126 not out.

Pakistan currently find themselves in a position where they not only need to beat England on Saturday, but will also need other results going their way for them to reach the semis for only the second time in this millennium.

Former South Africa and Pakistan head coach Arthur, though, remained optimistic of Pakistan facing India in a mouth-watering semi-final at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens next week.

“Who knows how we are going to go in this competition,” Arthur said in the build-up to Pakistan’s upcoming clash.

“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,” he added.

Arthur also heaped praise on opener Fakhar, who had been dropped from the Pakistan XI for their match against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad and subsequently suffered a knee injury, for his game-changing knock against New Zealand.

“”Since Fakhar has come in he has just been unbelievable.

“Sometimes in campaigns like this it takes something to just ignite it and Fakhar certainly ignited that for us.

“We know when he plays well he is exceptional. I have always been a massive backer of Fakhar because I think he can change games,” the South African added.