KKR star calls out racism in cricket, says THIS

Moeen Ali addresses racism in cricket, emphasizing his role as a Muslim in breaking stereotypes. The former England star continues playing for KKR in IPL 2025.

New Delhi: Former England cricketer Moeen Ali has highlighted the issue of racism in cricket, asserting that his responsibility as a Muslim and an individual is to demonstrate that people from his community are not negative. However, he has acknowledged that the divide between Muslim cricketers and their counterparts has decreased compared to the past.

The Warwickshire all-rounder is among the few Muslim cricketers to have played for England at the top level and has a strong relationship with Adil Rashid. Since his debut in 2014, Moeen has participated in 68 Test matches, 138 One Day Internationals, and 92 T20 matches.

In an interview with Sky Sports, the 37-year-old shared that he has made ongoing efforts to inform his England teammates about his faith. Moeen believes that this has had a positive impact, especially considering the prevalent negativity surrounding the topic. He expressed:

I believe that the divide has narrowed, though not entirely, and it is closer than it has ever been, particularly within the England changing room. Those who engaged with me likely did not have the same level of interaction with other Muslims. I hope that at least one individual has come to realize that Muslims are not bad people and are just like anyone else. There is a significant amount of negativity surrounding this topic. My responsibility, as a person and a Muslim, is to demonstrate—rather than simply explain—that Muslims are not bad.

Moeen Ali concluded his international career by participating in the T20 World Cup 2024 semifinal against India. Nevertheless, he remains active in franchise cricket, currently playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL 2025.

Moeen Ali, a former England cricketer, has spoken out against racism in cricket, emphasizing his role as a Muslim to demonstrate that individuals from his community are not negative. He acknowledged that the divide between Muslim cricketers and others has lessened over time.

As one of the few Muslim players to represent England at the highest level, Moeen shares a strong connection with fellow cricketer Adil Rashid. Since his debut in 2014, he has participated in 68 Tests, 138 One Day Internationals, and 92 Twenty20 matches. In an interview with Sky Sports, the 37-year-old expressed his efforts to educate his teammates about his faith, believing it has contributed positively amid prevalent negativity. He remarked, “I think that gap has been closed – not completely, but it is closer together than it’s ever been,” particularly within the England dressing room. He hopes that even one person can recognize that Muslims are not bad, countering the surrounding negativity.

Moeen played his last match for the national team during the T20 World Cup 2024 semifinal against India but continues to participate in franchise cricket with the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025. As he approaches the completion of his level-three coaching qualification, Moeen aspires to become a coach, hoping to inspire and motivate players. He stated, “I really enjoy the team environment… It’s about the players and trying to improve people, not just as players but as people.” He finds fulfillment in hearing feedback from fans, especially when they express how his influence has inspired their children.

Additionally, Moeen plans to retire from County cricket this summer, having played 202 first-class matches and accumulated over 11,000 runs, including 20 centuries and 70 half-centuries.