- England all-rounder Moeen Ali was recently bestowed with the prestigious OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his outstanding contributions to cricket.
- The ceremony took place at Windsor Castle, just two days before the much-anticipated Ashes series in which Moeen Ali returns after retirement.
The Honor of OBE
Moeen Ali, the talented England all-rounder, was recently honored with the prestigious OBE (Order of the British Empire) in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the sport of cricket. The grand ceremony took place at the majestic Windsor Castle, adding an extra touch of grandeur to the occasion. Despite missing a training session at Edgbaston to collect his OBE, Ali is determined to seize the opportunity to make his family proud.
Expressing his gratitude, he stated, “More than anything, I know it makes my parents happy, and that’s the most important thing.” “I think it’s more about the journey I’ve been on, my background, my upbringing, and all that,” he added. Ali attributes much of his success to the dedication and drive of his father Munir, who also played a pivotal role in shaping the cricketing career of his cousin Kabir Ali. He also acknowledges the love and support of his mother, Maqsood. Recognizing their sacrifices, he considers himself a medal on their chests, acknowledging that without their efforts and sacrifices, he and his family wouldn’t have achieved cricketing success.
A Place in The Playing 11
Moeen Ali’s return to Test cricket comes after a hiatus of nearly two years, with England Test captain Ben Stokes extending the invitation following spinner Jack Leach’s unfortunate injury. However, Moeen Ali humbly states, “The door is open. But I don’t want to disrespect Jack Leach [current England spinner]. It’s a difficult job- especially in England – and I know that I back him, I’m right behind him. I don’t want to put any pressure there, he’s a fantastic bowler.”
In Ali’s Test career, he has represented England in 64 matches, accumulating 2,914 runs, including five centuries and 14 half-centuries. Additionally, he has taken 195 wickets at an average of 36.66.
With his Test return prompted by Jack Leach’s injury, Moeen Ali answered England’s call to play in the Ashes series. He said that Ben had himself texted him “Ashes?” to which he just replied “lol” in the beginning but further said that if anyone could bring him out of his retirement, it would be ‘Ben Stokes’. As England, led by Ben Stokes, aims to reclaim the Ashes title for the first time since 2015, the highly anticipated battle against Australia commenced on 16 June and will be played till 20 June. Moeen earns 8th place to bat among the given players:
