Hamilton sees bright and diverse future for changing F1
LONDON: Moeen Ali has insisted “hand on heart” he has not experienced any racism during his time in English cricket following a welter of allegations.
“I always felt that if you were scoring runs or taking wickets you’ll play,” the England all-rounder told reporters in Cape Town on Wednesday, ahead of England’s white-ball series against South Africa with the first Twenty20 international in Cape Town on Nov.27.
“I have now been playing for England for six years and always felt at home, always felt like one of the guys,” added Moeen, a practising Muslim.
Tuesday saw the England and Wales Cricket Board accused of “institutional racism” by former international umpire john holder and aspiring official Ismail Dawood, who both feel non-white candidates have been unfairly prevented from becoming match officials. The duo’s accusations follow allegations by Azeem Rafiq that he suffered racial discrimination playing for Yorkshire. Moeen has previously alleged racial abuse by an unnamed Australia player during a Test match in 2015. But Moeen said he had not encountered any prejudice in English cricket.
Meanwhile, Moeen, who has made 200 international appearances, vowed to again become an England regular ater admitting he hasn’t “got that long let” in international cricket.
The 33-year-old off-spinner is no longer a guaranteed first-choice, with Moeen losing his place in the Test side during last year’s Ashes.
Meanwhile, south africa head coach mark boucher revealed on Thursday that he had been a victim of coronavirus without knowing he had contracted the disease. boucher was speaking ahead of limited overs series against England. An unnamed South African player tested positive for COVID-19 when the South Africans assembled on Wednesday.
He and two others, with whom the infected player had close contact, have been separated from the rest of the squad and will stay in isolation while being monitored by the team’s medical staff.
According to a statement from Cricket South Africa, all three were asymptomatic. Boucher said he sympathised with the affected players.
“I didn’t even know I had it,” he said. “I felt a litle down for one or two days. I had been throwing down to some players in the nets and felt some aches and pains.” “COVID-19 is bigger than sport,” said Boucher.
Boucher said he welcomed the series against England ater a bruising winter during which COVID-19, boardroom batles and controversy over racism dominated headlines.