England’s all-rounder Moeen Ali said the senior national team is ready to welcome Ollie Robinson back as the pacer is free to resume playing again after serving out a partly-suspended 8-match ban.
England pacer Ollie Robinson, who made his Test debut against New Zealand in June, was removed from the squad ahead of the second Test of the two-match series after his old ‘racist’ and ‘sexist’ tweets which he posted in 2012 and 2013 went viral during his debut Test match.
Robinson then was fined USD 4,400 and was handed an 8-game suspended ban and has already served three games (second Test against New Zealand and 2 T20 Blast games for Sussex) and is therefore immediately available for selection by England.
Addressing the press conference ahead of the 3rd ODI against Sri Lanka, Moeen Ali said that he would welcome Ollie Robinson as he seems to be a very nice guy. He added that he is sure that the pacer has learned from his mistakes by serving the ban.
"Of course I would welcome him back. I have only known him for a short period but he seems a very nice guy and I get on really well with him. I am sure he has learned from his mistakes.
“He has done his time in terms of the ban. I think everybody makes mistakes - you forgive, forget, carry on with life and try and move on,” Moeen Ali said.
Moeen Ali further lauded the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for taking punitive action against Ollie Robinson, saying he hopes it will set an example and help fight discrimination in the sport.
"I thought the ECB did the right thing pulling him out of the Test Series and I think [the punishment is sufficient], that the right thing has been done. Regardless of the length of the punishment, the fact there was punishment was good.
“It's all about looking forward now and how you can't get away with these kinds of things, that things need to change and people need to change. Even as a young player coming through the county circuit, you have to be careful with things you tweet,” he said.
With Ollie Robinson available for selection, it remains to be seen whether the England Cricket Board will include him for the upcoming five-match Test series against India.
(India Today inputs)
