Moeen calls for greater Asian involvement in England

Published August 3, 2017
Ali thinks English cricket is missing a trick by not reaching out to potential players from Britain’s Asian communities.
Ali thinks English cricket is missing a trick by not reaching out to potential players from Britain’s Asian communities.

LONDON: Moeen Ali believes English cricket is missing a trick by not reaching out to more potential players from Britain’s Asian communities.

Moeen, whose hat-trick sealed England’s 239-run win in the third Test against South Africa at The Oval on Monday, is the latest of several players of Asian descent to represent England, including former captain Nasser Hussain, with cricket deeply embedded in the life of many British Asian communities.

But Moeen, who was born and brought up in Birmingham, a city with one of Britain’s largest Asian populations, said more work was needed if English cricket was to make the most of this enthusiasm for the sport.

“Now, a lot more south Asian people are thinking: ‘Actually, I could make a good career from this now.’ But it’s also down to the counties to do more to help South-Asian kids,” Moeen, who started his career with Birmingham-based Warwickshire before moving to Midlands rivals Worcestershire, told The Guardian on Wednesday.

“Look at Warwickshire. This is a big city of Asian people, so why can’t you produce any south Asian players? I don’t understand.”

The England and Wales Cricket Board (WCB) has launched a south Asian initiative to help develop players from those backgrounds and Moeen said: “It’s a very good step in the right direction to ask people how the ECB can help them. It’s very positive because the pool of talent is vast.

“But the south Asian mentality must also change. Cricket is not just batting and bowling. There’s a lot of physical stuff, fitness, fielding, diet, discipline, being on time.”

The bearded Moeen, a 30-year-old off-spinning all-rounder, is also one of the most high-profile practising Muslims in British public life and a representative of a community that has often felt stigmatised following recent terror attacks in Manchester and London.

“There is such negativity in the media around Islam but when I play cricket for England I don’t have to say anything,” Moeen added.

“I’m hoping people look at me and other Muslims and think: Actually, it will be all right. They’re not too bad.’”

Meanwhile Moeen, who made his name as a batsman, was hailed as an “unsung hero” by former England captain Alastair Cook.

England are now 2-1 up against South Africa ahead of the fourth and final Test.

Moeen is the leading bowler on either side with 18 wickets — including a 10-wicket haul in England’s series-opening win at Lord’s where he also made 87.

“It has been an amazing series for Mo, he is a legend,” opening batsman Cook told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme.

“He is the unsung hero in one sense. He came into the side a few years ago when I was captain as a guy who could balance the side and bowl a little bit of off-spin and now he is the leading wicket-taker in the series.

“His off-spin is actually very good, he’s not [former England off-spinner] Graeme Swann but his record is improving all the time.” Cook added.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2017

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

An audit of polio funds at federal and provincial levels is sorely needed, with obstacles hindering eradication efforts targeted.
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...