Good news recently came from Moeen Ali, a retired Muslim British cricketer. He has been awarded an OBE for cricket services to cricket in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
While speaking to The Guardian, Moenn said he was very honored to receive this award. His honor reflected his role-model status among the British Asian community, who were under-represented in the national team.
Moeen, who has risen from the cricket community at Sparkhill Park in Birmingham, has presented 200 appearances for England.
He said that ever since he played for England, people have referred to him as a potential role model, which is why he doesn’t want to let people down, and as time goes on, he keeps trying to get better.
Moeen credits his success to his father Munir, who struggled to mold him and his cousin Kabir Ali into England’s cricketers, and his mother’s love and support that his mother, Maqsood, gave. He said that he was happy to be “a medal on the chest of his family.”
Moeen, who retired from Tests last summer, said he was interested in McCullum’s appointment as England’s new head coach, particularly his intention of freeing players to play with the sense of liberation that many of them have frequently shown in white-ball cricket, including in Moeen’s case, the IPL.
He said McCullum contacted him to ask if he would come in. He enjoyed working with McCullum while playing with him in the Indian Premier League; therefore, he certainly would not turn down that possibility in the future.
Although the door is wide open, the former test cricketer says he doesn’t want to disrespect current England spinner, Jack Leach. He added that he strongly supports Leach and doesn’t want to pressure the player he calls a fantastic bowler.
At the same time, Moeen clarified rumors that he did not enjoy Joe Root’s captaincy. The 34-year-old denied the rumors, saying Joe is a great man and a very good friend to him.
