London: Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has sought India’s help for Pakistan to reach the semi-finals of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2019.

On Wednesday (June 26), Pakistan kept their hopes of reaching the last-four stage alive with an upset win over unbeaten New Zealand. Thanks to Babar Azam’s brilliant ton, the ‘men in green’ won by six wickets at Edgbaston.

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Pakistan still have to play two more league matches, against Afghanistan and Bangladesh. If they win both the games and other results go in their favour, then the Sarfaraz Ahmed-led side could make the semi-finals.

The current campaign of Pakistan is eerily similar to that of the 1992 World Cup where they won the title under the leadership of Imran Khan, who is now Pakistan’s prime minister.

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After Pakistan’s victory over New Zealand, Akhtar took to his YouTube channel to praise the players and sought the Virat Kohli-led Indian side’s help.

"Now, India will have to help Pakistan. How? If they win their one match against England, then England will be knocked out and Pakistan will qualify for the semi-finals with 11 points," Akhtar said.

"I feel that Pakistan has made a good comeback. But, now, India wake up. Now you will have to help us. Defeat England, and we will win our two matches and so we can face you in the semi-finals and defeat you," he added.

India face England on June 30. They are unbeaten so far in the 10-team tournament and are playing West Indies at Old Trafford today (June 27).

Akhtar, who is known as “Rawalpindi Express”, had earlier lashed out at Sarfaraz for his “brainless captaincy" against India on June 16. India had won by 89 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method to extend their unbeaten World Cup record over their arch rivals. India hold 7-0 advantage over Pakistan in World Cup history.