The allrounder’s early days of trying forge a professional career were not easy – his father would sometimes go without food – and now he wants to use his new-found status to help others follow his path
George Dobell13-Nov-2014In the week that we learned that David James, an England footballer with career earnings in excess of £20m, had declared himself bankrupt, it is probably no surprise to hear of another young sportsman splashing out with his new-found wealth.The difference on this occasion is that Moeen Ali, a few weeks after signing his first central contract, has bought a new car for his father and invested in the cricket academy they run together in Birmingham.Far from revelling in the trappings of success, it seems Moeen is determined to use his status and his money to ensure that other young cricketers from a similar background are able to follow him into the professional game.For it was not just Moeen’s talent and determination that brought him success. It was the determination and sacrifice of his family, and his father Munir in particular.In those early years, when Moeen required ferrying from game to game and trial to trial, it was far from unusual for Munir Ali to go without food to ensure he had the requisite petrol money. Munir, a nurse, used to work nights in order to ensure his availability in the day times. He wanted to give his sons – and Moeen’s bothers, Kadeer and Omar, both played to a decent standard – every opportunity.”I used to lie awake at night and worry that the boys might not make it because of my failures,” Munir told ESPNcricinfo. “I worried that, because I couldn’t afford to take them to a game or a trial, they would lose their place to another boy. I was so anxious about letting them down.”So when Moeen went through a period of nicking off to the slips, Munir hired Warwickshire batting coach Neal Abberley, the man renowned as Ian Bell’s mentor and a master at playing ‘in the corridor’ – to work with him. Whether the game was in Taunton or London, the family found a way to get Moeen to the ground. “I’ve no idea how he found the money,” Moeen says with a shake of the head.Such tales of parental sacrifice are not unique, of course. Indeed, they are probably recognised by almost anyone with a son or daughter in the game.But for every young cricketer that overcomes their impoverished background – and Ravi Bopara is another who owes much to his parents’ efforts – there are countless others whose talents are lost along the way. Who are unable to make the trails or afford the kit. Who feel, rightly or wrongly, that the traditional world of club cricket does not welcome those from their background.”There have been some very, very good players who have slipped through the net,” Moeen says. “I used to play with these kids but, for some reason, they fall in with the wrong crowd or they think it’s impossible for them to break through. They give up.”There was a spinner who was a lot better than me. He turned it miles. But he has given up. And there was a tall left-arm seamer, Zafran Ali [no relation], who was one of the best I have seen. Bet he felt he was never going to progress and he gave up. And there was a batsman, Shiraz Tahir, who had loads of talent. He was Naqaash Tahir’s brother [a former Warwickshire team-mate] and the guy I borrowed pads from when I had a trial at Warwickshire.”The names continue. The message – that English cricket is failing to capitalise on the enthusiasm and talent of its Asian communities – is obvious.Moeen and Munir want to put that right. They want to ensure that the next generation of young cricketers has access to the best coaching, the best facilities and discover a pathway into the professional game.The MA Academy, based at Edgbaston, has been operating for several years. It welcomes players from all backgrounds, with those that can afford it paying and those that can’t attending free of charge. More than a third of those attending at present will go on to county trials with an expectation that many will play representative age-group cricket in the coming years. Whatever their failings in the past, Warwickshire now relish the relationship and encourage players from the scheme.The difference now is that Moeen can help his father, who was obliged to give up nursing following a stroke, fund the academy. And perhaps he can use his status in the game and the community to attract more young players and sponsors. Along with his brother, Kadeer Ali, who represented three counties in his professional career and their cousin, Kabir Ali, the first of the family to win a Test cap, Moeen will – when available – be on hand to advise and inspire the next generation.
Hopefully, when they see people like me playing for England they will see that you can earn a living from playing cricket. That is what we are hoping: we are hoping to change people’s livesMoeen Ali on his aspirations to help others
“My dad’s academy is one of the best,” Moeen says with obvious pride. “I say that because the first thing he does it is to take people away from the streets and doing all the wrong stuff. The kids learn skills beyond cricket. Social skills.”There is a real mix of kids. You will see some very rich kids and some kids with nothing. No kit. It’s all different types of kids. This is why it is very good. It is white kids, Asian kids, black kids. It is really important for kids to mix like that and learn about other cultures.”Hopefully, when they see people like me playing for England they will see that you can earn a living from playing cricket. That is what we are hoping: we are hoping to change people’s lives.”My dad does everything off his own back. He doesn’t get any funding. He’s been doing it for years. If there was funding out there it would be fantastic because it would take a lot of pressure off him. He has to pay for coaches and for facilities and he doesn’t always charge. Some kids just can’t afford training two or three times a week. It is amazing and it is something that is really unique.”Which makes it all the more peculiar that, in the summer of 2014, in the city where he and his father were born and raised, Moeen Ali was booed by a crowd at Edgbaston.Moeen pauses before talking about it.”The only thing that really hurt me was the booing,” he says eventually. “Actually I won’t say it hurt me, it was more disappointing that I live 10 minutes away and I’m getting booed by people who I feel I’m supposed to represent. It is a big shame.”You can hear the different types of booing. Myself and Ravi got a lot of boos and I felt mine was much bigger. I don’t know why; maybe because my background is from Kashmir. But there was a big difference between the types of boos.”If you go to India – I have played in India for Under 19s – they cheer everyone. It’s different over there. In this case, I think alcohol played a large part. The boos got louder during the day and I think there were also people out there who just jumped on the bandwagon. I was just glad to field the last ball when we won.”People have the right to support who they want of course, but I’m hoping in the future maybe they or their kids will become England fans and players.”My dad was obviously very upset because it was the first time the family had come to watch me play an international game in Birmingham.”I know it’s a negative thing but I think there’s a bit of positive that can come out of something like that. Because of the booing and stuff there has been a lot of support. I have had a lot of Indian friends come up and almost apologise and say ‘we’re really behind you.’ There are people who have thought about it now and thought actually we are English, we are born in England.”And the solution?”I think players like myself and Ravi need to get out there and tell people that it is about playing for our country; playing for England. Sometimes in Asian homes it is all about where we’ve come from, which is important too, but it is about where you live and where you’re born and the people who are the same as you.”It didn’t taint it for me, it just made me realise that there is a lot of work that needs to be done. There is more that people like myself can do to promote the game and change minds a little bit to support England.”On and off the pitch, Moeen Ali has a role to play for England.Investec, the specialist bank and asset manager, is the title sponsor of Test match cricket in England. Visit investec.co.uk/cricket or follow us @InvestecCricket