"Since Pakistan is not playing, I back England and by watching them play in recent months I feel they have the firepower to win the World Cup," Wasim told AFP.

"England is just like my second home so when your own country is not there you back the next best country and in my case I would love to see England win."

Wasim, a self-confessed football fan, hoped the possible absence through a foot injury of England's star striker Wayne Rooney would not affect the team's performance.

"It's just like we lost Waqar Younis a few days before the 1992 cricket World Cup," Wasim said.

"But the loss made us more determined, we struggled initially but overcame and went on to win," said Wasim, referring to Pakistan's cricket World Cup win in Australia.

"I have watched Rooney in Manchester where he plays and although he is an extraordinary talent ... teams don't rely on one player and I hope England come out of (overcome) his loss if he doesn't play.

"The likes of David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole are great players and form a great team. England's coach (Eriksson) is also a master tactician, so all in all they are a team to watch," said Wasim, who turned 40 on Saturday.

Wasim was arguably one of the best fast bowlers to have played international cricket with 414 wickets in 104 Tests and a world record 502 wickets in 352 one-day internationals.

Wasim said he would watch most of the World Cup in England.

"I would be in England from the second week of this month so I would watch most of the matches in Manchester and pray that England come up to everyone's expectations."