Amla relishes playing at CWC during Ramadan

Cape Town - Proteas star batsman Hashim Amla will be fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and revealed it is a "good mental and spiritual exercise".

Starting on May 6 this year, Muslims around the world, with some exemptions, fast from sunrise to sunset for a maximum of 30 days.

Amla told the ICC that he is delighted to be starting this year's Cricket World Cup in what he called the "best month of the year", the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

"It really helps with my conditioning," Amla said, after South Africa's rain-affected, final warm-up match against West Indies in Bristol.

Amla scored 65 and an unbeaten 51 in the Proteas two warm-up games against Sri Lanka and West Indies this past weekend.

The Proteas will face England in the opening match of the World Cup on Thursday.

Play gets underway at 11:30 SA time.

South Africa's 2019 Cricket World Cup squad:

Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Rassie van der Dussen