South Africa's senior pro-Hashim Amla had been out of form for some time. He ended an unhappy 2018 with 315 runs at a below-par average of 28.63. Further, he even didn't participate in the five-match ODI series versus Sri Lanka at home and opted out of the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 edition.

However, he returned back to the fore in the five ODIs between South Africa and Pakistan and was among runs from the first match itself. As a result, he ended the series with 214 runs -- overall the third highest run-getter -- at an average of 53.50 which included a fifty and a hundred.

read: Indian Cricket Team leaves for England for World Cup 2019

By regaining his self-belief, Amla has stated that he is feeling hungrier than before and will be raring to go at the forthcoming ICC World Cup, to be held in England and Wales from May 30. As planning is in full swing for the marquee event, Amla was quoted as saying by ICC,

"Things happen that you don't anticipate and I didn't anticipate how things have gone recently. But I am a firm believer that when something happens, there is some good in it. I have had a tie away and now I am really looking back to wearing the green and gold again. I am hungrier than even (ever) before, there is no doubt about that. I have been blessed to have this short for a while but the time off has made me want to come back stronger."

Faf du Plessis-led South Africa will commence their campaign on May 30 when they meet hosts England in the tournament-opener at Kennington Oval, London.