England may be among the favorites to claim their maiden World Cup title on home soil but fans of the gentleman's game believe they are not likely to win any fair play awards, according to a poll. In a poll by research agency YouGov Sport that consulted 6,500 fans across the six major cricket-playing countries, less than a third of the English fans who replied believed their team, now the top-ranked One-Day International side, had the most ethical set of players. Only fans of defending champions Australia had less faith in their players' sporting ethics, a fallout of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that led to skipper Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner being hit with 12-month bans from the game. "It looks like England have traded in their reputation for being nice for being winners. Many fans will settle for that if it means lifting the World Cup this year," YouGov Sport commercial director Charlie Dundas said. The data also showed that the English public was the least likely to believe cricket was a game played with a high standard of sporting ethics. "There is an alternative explanation (for the data)," Dundas said. "The lower a country sets the bar on ethical expectations, the more likely it is that a team will meet them. It could just be that the English public sets the bar higher." Prince Harry drops cheeky chirp at Finch On the eve of the cricket World Cup, Prince Harry stoked the rivalry between England and Australia with a cheeky sledge at Aaron Finch during a team captains' reception at Buckingham Palace. "You're getting on a bit now, aren't you? How long have you been playing?" the Duke of Sussex asked the 32-year-old Australian skipper, making him laugh. Australia are bidding for back-to-back World Cup titles after winning the 2015 tournament on home soil, while hosts England are favorites to claim their first. Queen Elizabeth also met the captains ahead of a garden party at the palace on Wednesday. England's 'do-or-die' Cup bid excites Pietersen Kevin Pietersen believes the fearless brand of one-day cricket England have played under Eoin Morgan means they can win the World Cup for the first time. England, who launch the tournament against South Africa at the Oval on Thursday, have transformed their approach to the one-day international game under Morgan and coach Trevor Bayliss since their embarrassing first-round exit at the 2015 edition. "When you are allowed to fail you can play some unbelievable sport," former England batsman Pietersen, one of the most talented runscorers of his generation, said at the official tournament opening in London on Wednesday. "That is what Morgan and Bayliss have done." The former England skipper praised Morgan's leadership. "He's cool, he's calm and he has the backing of his players, which is the most important thing," he said. "And you get supported by your players when you know that your leader is supporting you. "I think the most encouraging thing about this England team is that they are allowed to fail. That has been just the biggest turnaround in what they are doing." Amir is fit for Pakistan's opener, says Sarfaraz Fast bowler Mohammad Amir could make his World Cup debut in Pakistan's opening match against the West Indies on Friday, captain Sarfaraz Ahmed said on Thursday. "Mohammad Amir is fully fit and available for selection," he told reporters at Nottingham's Trent Bridge. There had been speculation that the 27-year-old, a late inclusion in the squad, would miss the game for health and fitness reasons after sitting out the last four One Day Internationals. Amir produced a match-winning three-wicket haul in the Champions Trophy final in England two years ago after missing the 2011 and 2015 World Cups as a result of a five-year ban for match-fixing. Sarfaraz said he was clear about his starting 11, with all his players fit. Pakistan, tournament winners in 1992, arrived in Nottingham on the back of a stunning loss to Afghanistan in a warm-up match in Bristol and 10 straight ODI defeats at the hands of England, Australia and South Africa. But they are also seen as unpredictable, which Sarfaraz said was only a positive. "I think it's good to be unpredictable," he added. "At the end of the day, the Pakistan team is very dangerous." Pakistan's Hasan does not fear flat pitches at World Cup Pakistan seamer Hasan Ali says he is not worried about the prospect of flat pitches that are likely to favor batsmen during the World Cup in England and Wales. The 24-year-old was Pakistan's star performer in the Champions Trophy win in England two years ago, taking 13 wickets to finish as player of the tournament. But his recent form has been a worry for Pakistan, coinciding with 10 straight ODI losses leading into their opening World Cup match against the West Indies in Nottingham on Friday. Hasan said he knows how to bowl on flat pitches. "The way modern cricket is going, every bowler needs to know that taking wickets is the key," Hasan said. "You take wickets and you win matches." Touted for taking wickets in the middle overs of one-day matches, Hasan rose to the top of the bowler's charts in 2017, taking 45 wickets — the most in the calendar year. But he managed just three wickets in four matches against England in a 4-0 loss earlier in May. "I know that I have not taken many wickets since the South Africa tour, but I am doing the hard work with bowling coach (Azhar Mahmood) and once I get my rhythm I am sure wickets will come my way," said Hasan. "We know that our bowling, which has been our strength, is not doing well but with the return of two experienced bowlers in Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir our bowling is now at full strength," he added. — Agencies
