Imam-ul-Haq vows no World Cup let-up from Pakistan

Victory for New Zealand against England on Wednesday would leave the door open for Pakistan to seal a place in the last four of the World Cup if it wins its final group match.

"Our plan is to play the semifinal with an all-out effort and at the end if that doesn’t happen then we have to play positive cricket and end on a high," Imam said.

Imam-ul-Haq says Pakistan will go all out against Bangladesh on Friday even if it has no realistic chance of reaching the World Cup 2019 semifinals.

Victory for New Zealand against England on Wednesday would leave the door open for Pakistan to seal a place in the last four if it wins its final group match.

But a win for the tournament host would all but end the 1992 champion's chances of reaching the last four -- England would be out of reach on 12 points while New Zealand has a far-superior net run rate to Pakistan so would likely progress even if the two teams finished level on 11 points.

Imam said there was no despondency in the Pakistan camp despite the difficult situation.

“We are not thinking on the lines of not reaching semi-finals,” said Imam.

“Our plan is to play the semifinal with an all-out effort and at the end if that doesn’t happen then we have to play positive cricket and end on a high.”

Pakistan won just one of its first five World Cup matches but bounced back strongly with victories against South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan to give themselves a shot at reaching the semifinals.

Imam said the 41-run defeat against defending champion Australia earlier in the competition was painful.

“I think the Australia defeat hurts me a lot. I was set and playing well. I should have won that match for Pakistan,” said Imam.

READ | Pakistan can reach semifinals if New Zealand beats England

“We lost four quick wickets and I think I should have won that game and we would have beaten a big team in the World Cup.”

Imam, who scored his only fifty of the tournament in that match, said he was disappointed with his batting during the tournament.

“I think what expectations I had from myself I could not do like that,” said Imam, who has so far scored 205 in seven innings.

“I had starts but couldn’t score big.

“I am very young so I have learned a lot in this World Cup. What mistakes I have committed, I have learned from them and I am sure that will help me,” said the 23-year-old.