I Have Never Experienced Anything Like That: Moeen Ali On Whether He Has Faced Racism In English Cricket

Moeen Ali, England’s off-spin all-rounder, has said that he has not faced any incidents of racism during the course of his cricket career.

Moeen Ali, who is currently with the English touring party in South Africa for the upcoming ODI and T20I series, said that he has always felt at ‘home’ whenever he has turned out in an England shirt.

“I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I have never experienced anything like that. I always felt that if you were scoring runs or taking wickets you’ll play. I have now been playing for England for six years and always felt at home, always felt like one of the guys,” Moeen Ali told reporters in Cape Town.

Moeen Ali’s comments come after England Cricket has been accused of racism in the past few months. While county cricketer Azeem Rafiq had come out in the open, accusing Yorkshire of institutionalizing racism, a former match official has hurled the same accusation against the England and Wales Cricket Board, calling for an independent inquiry with regards to the absence of non-white match officials in English cricket in the past two decades.

Moeen acknowledged the fact that there are issues that need to be addressed besides adding that he is confident that the ECB are ‘improving’ in all aspects of the game.

“I am sure there are other guys who say they have and I am sure things have and will be done about it. The review is being done and the ECB are improving in all these aspects of the game. “No one is perfect, but going forward, I think a lot will be done to get all these things right.” Moeen Ali added.

”I want to play Test cricket and play as much as I can.”- Moeen Ali

Talking about his international career, Moeen Ali is no longer a certainty in the red-ball format. The off-spinning all-rounder was dropped from the longest format of the game during the 2019 Ashes and even though he realizes that he doesn’t have too many years left in the tank, he is confident of regaining his place back in the set-up.

“I know I haven’t got that long left in international cricket, obviously depending on fitness and form, but I’ll try my best to do as much as I can to get to the level I want to get. It’s frustrating for myself and it’s more of a mental thing. “I’ve had enough of a break from Test cricket… There’s an opportunity there to be one of the greatest sides ever and be part of that. That’s something I want to do.” Moeen Ali said.

“I think I was hungrier when I was younger, when you are trying to play Test cricket (for the first time). I think everyone is hungrier then. “I guess a year-and-a-half ago I had definitely lost a lot of that hunger but over the last six months I feel like it is coming back. I want to play Test cricket and play as much as I can.” he added.

Also Read- Former Umpire John Holder Accuses ECB Of ‘Years Of Racism’