I’ve not suffered racism in cricket, insists Moeen
MOEEN ALI is adamant he has never experienced the racism which the English game has been accused of recently.
Speaking from Cape Town, where he is preparing for England’s limited-overs tour, allrounder Moeen addressed the allegations of institutional racism at the England and Wales Cricket Board, led by ex-international umpire John Holder and fellow umpire Ismail Dawood.
Both men say the path to officiating has been blocked to non-white candidates – a charge which provoked the ECB to promise a review – and their claims follow Azeem Rafiq’s allegations of racial discrimination in his time at Yorkshire.
Of his own experiences in the English game, Moeen said: ‘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.
‘I am sure there are other guys who say they have (experienced racism) 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 has also vowed to make the most of whatever time he has left in international cricket, including pushing for a return to Tests. The 33-year-old has not played one since losing his place to Jack Leach in the 2019 Ashes, subsequently not receiving a red-ball contract.
‘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,’ he said.
‘It’s frustrating and it’s more of a mental thing. That hunger has not been there in the last year or so, there’s been glimpses but I know deep down I haven’t done well over a period of time.
‘It’s my job now to go out and perform. I need to get into a good mental space, which I have been working on for four or five months. It’s been difficult but it’s about clearing everything out and starting afresh.
‘I’ve had enough of a break from Test cricket. I can give my all in the next couple of years to try and be part of this. There’s an opportunity to be one of the greatest sides ever and be part of that. I want to play in Tests and play as much as I can.’