‘Don’t think he fancied carrying the drinks’ – Moeen Ali’s father Munir after the all-rounder bid adieu to Test cricket

Moeen Ali’s father Munir was taken aback after the all-rounder decided to hang his boots from Test cricket. It brought an end to a seven-year-long career that started back in June 2014 against Sri Lanka at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. The 34-year-old last played in the format in the fourth Test against India at the Kennington Oval in London earlier this month.

It was during the series against India itself when Moeen “felt like I was done”. Although he has retired from the purest format, Moeen will continue plying his trade for the Three Lions in ODI and T20I cricket. His father, in the meantime, reckoned that England cricket will strain to find a cricketer of Moeen’s class and said that his son has inspired the Asian community to play the sport.

There’s nothing stopping you providing you work hard, says Moeen Ali’s father

“I have to admit that I never saw that coming,” Moeen’s father was quoted as saying in inews.co.uk. “I don’t think there will be another Moeen Ali in 10 to 15 years. But what he has showed is that you don’t have to be from a big school.

“He showed the Asian community that if there’s a will there’s a way. There’s nothing stopping you providing you work hard and you have the talent,” he stated.

In the last one year or so, Moeen has made his way into England squads, but has strained to break into the playing eleven. Munir said that warming the benches and “carrying the drinks” might have taken a toll on the Birmingham-born cricketer.

“But the main reason for retiring is that Australian tour and being in a bubble, after being in a bubble all last year. At his age, I don’t think he fancied carrying the drinks,” Munir said.

Moeen finished his Test career with 2914 runs and 195 wickets from 64 matches. Munir wanted his son to finish on a high by entering the record books, but that won’t be case for the time being.

“I would love him to have played in that final Test [against India] and got five more wickets and 86 more runs to be one of only 15 players to have achieved 3000 runs and 200 Test wickets,” he said.