Moeen Ali, the 37-year-old England all-rounder, has officially retired from international cricket. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Ali announced his decision on Saturday.
Born in Birmingham, Ali made his debut for England in 2014 and went on to play 68 Test matches, 138 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and 92 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). His last international match was in June 2024.
Ali, who made history as the first cricketer of Asian descent to captain England in T20Is, has an impressive record with five Test centuries, three ODI centuries, and a total of 366 wickets across all formats. He was also a key player in England’s victories at the 2019 Cricket World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Moeen Ali Retires from International Cricket
England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who played in 298 international matches, has announced his retirement from international cricket.
Moeen, who last represented England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, was not selected for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia this month.
The 37-year-old cricketer explained that he felt it was the right time to step aside, as he was no longer part of England’s plans for future competitions.
In an interview with former England captain Nasser Hussain, Moeen said, “I’m 37 and wasn’t chosen for the Australia series. I’ve played a lot for England, and it’s time for the younger players. The timing feels right—I’ve contributed my share.”
Moeen’s decision aligns with England’s goal to rebuild their team, preparing for major events like the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
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Moeen Ali Reflects on His Cricket Journey and Future Plans
Moeen Ali, who holds the England record for the fastest T20I half-century after scoring 50 runs off 16 balls against South Africa in 2022, expressed pride in his international career. He reflected on how, when he first started playing for England, he had no idea how many matches he would be able to play. Having participated in nearly 300 games, he considered those to be the best days of his life.
Ali also mentioned his future plans, saying he intended to continue playing in franchise cricket and eventually move into coaching. He acknowledged that, while he could try to return to the England team, he believed it was unlikely. His decision to retire wasn’t due to a lack of ability but rather an understanding that the team needed to evolve, and he felt it was the right time to step aside.
About Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali made his international cricket debut in 2014 against the West Indies. Over the course of his career, he accumulated 6,678 international runs and took 366 wickets. He was a key part of England’s squad that won both the 2019 Cricket World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.
At 37 years old, Moeen retired with 204 Test wickets, placing him as England’s third-highest wicket-taking spinner in Test matches, following Derek Underwood (297) and Graeme Swann (255).
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FAQs
Q.1. When did Moeen Ali announce his retirement?
Ans. Moeen announced his retirement from international cricket in an interview with the Daily Mail on Saturday.
Q.2. How many international matches did Moeen Ali play?
Ans. Moeen played 68 Test matches, 138 ODIs, and 92 T20Is, totaling 298 international games.
Q.3. What were Moeen Ali’s major cricket achievements?
Ans. Moeen was a key player in England’s 2019 Cricket World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup wins. He also holds the record for the fastest T20I half-century for England.
Q.4. Why did Moeen Ali retire from international cricket?
Ans. Moeen decided to retire because he was not selected for the upcoming series against Australia and felt it was the right time to step aside for younger players.
Q.5. What are Moeen Ali’s future plans?
Ans. Moeen plans to continue playing franchise cricket and hopes to transition into coaching in the future.
