Former Pakistan batsman Basil Ali on Tuesday (June 25) said India will deliberately play poorly and might lose their last two league matches against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to make sure that their arch-rivals don’t qualify for the semi-finals of the ongoing World Cup.

Amid extreme pressure and harsh criticism after the defeat against India, Pakistan made a wonderful comeback to register an emphatic 49-run victory over South Africa at Lord’s on Sunday (June 23).

With two wins from six games, Pakistan are now at the seventh spot in the 10-team points table. Their remaining fixtures are against New Zealand (June 26), Afghanistan (June 29) and Bangladesh (July 5). If the Men in Green manage to win their mentioned matches and the outcome of other clashes go in their favour, the 1992 champions can reach the semi-final.

“India have played only five matches so far and they would never want Pakistan to qualify for the semi-final. India’s remaining matches are against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and the way they played against Afghanistan everyone saw it,” Basit told ARY News.

 “I personally feel Pakistan should only focus on their next match against New Zealand,” he added.

Basit Ali also accused David Warner of deliberately playing a slow knock against India in this World Cup, while he also alleged New Zealand of purposely losing to Pakistan in 1992 World Cup.

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England’s last two defeats against Sri Lanka and Australia have given Pakistan a glimmer of hope to qualify for the semi-final. However, Sarfaraz Ahmed and company have no option but to rely on India to reach the last-four stage. If India beat England on June 30, Bangladesh on July 2 and Sri Lanka on July 6 then things might fall place in for Pakistan.