English cricket might be hurting with multiple accusations of indifferent treatment by non-white players and match officials, but their Muslim all-rounder, Moeen Ali, says he hasn't experienced any racism within the set-up in his career so far.
On Tuesday (November 17), former international umpire John Holder and aspiring official Ismail Dawood accused the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) of "institutional racism". They feel non-white candidates are being prevented from becoming officials because of their colour.
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This was a follow-up from ex Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq's allegations that he faced discrimination playing for the club.
Moeen, however, denied encountering any prejudice like that from his England teammates, support staff and the administrative regime.
"I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I have never experienced anything like that," Moeen told reporters on Wednesday (November 18) from South Africa where he is with the national limited-overs squad.
"I always felt that if you were scoring runs or taking wickets you'll play. I have now been playing for England for six years and always felt at home, always felt like one of the guys."
"I am sure there are other guys who say they have and I am sure things have and will be done about it. The review is being done and the ECB are improving in all these aspects of the game."
"No one is perfect, but going forward, I think a lot will be done to get all these things right," he added.
On a different note, the 33-year-old admitted he doesn't think he has "got that long left" in his international career as he strives to regain the tag of a first-choice cricketer across formats, having been left out from the Test squad despite making himself available again.
"I know I haven't got that long left in international cricket, obviously depending on fitness and form, but I'll try my best to do as much as I can to get to the level I want to get," said Moeen, who has played 60 Tests, 106 ODIs and 34 T20Is for England.
"It's frustrating for myself and it's more of a mental thing. I've had enough of a break from Test cricket... There's an opportunity there to be one of the greatest sides ever and be part of that. That's something I want to do."
"I think I was hungrier when I was younger, when you are trying to play Test cricket (for the first time). I think everyone is hungrier then."
"I guess a year-and-a-half ago I had definitely lost a lot of that hunger but over the last six months I feel like it is coming back. I want to play Test cricket and play as much as I can," he signed off.
