Moeen Ali proud to lead England in Pakistan as T20 World Cup looms

Moeen Ali has been waiting for this tour. He has been dreaming about it ever since he felt he had earned his place in the England team. But he never imagined he would be captain when it finally happened. “It’s a great honour regardless of who it’s against,” Moeen says, “but to do it in Pakistan when the team are coming back here, that’s amazing for me personally, especially when I have family who migrated from here back in the day.” His grandfather moved to England from Kashmir after the second world war, and his mother was born here. He spent time playing here as a child, and again, more recently, in the Pakistan Super League.

“I’m somebody that wants to play cricket in every nation,” Moeen says, “and Pakistan especially, after so long.” It’s been 17 years since England were last here. His decision to play in the PSL in 2020 was, he says, because he wanted to help play his part in “putting Pakistan cricket back on the map”. He sees this tour as an extension of that. “I wanted to be part of this. It’s a big thing when England come to Pakistan, more than any other country, England’s the one that the Pakistan fans really love to see coming here.”

His phone hasn’t stopped ringing since he arrived. He has an uncle who lives here, and plenty of friends too. “I’ve had so many messages,” most of them asking if he can help dig up tickets, “that it’s a bit of a killer for me”. But he’s happy to have the distraction. He’s obviously frustrated with the tight security for the tour, and the way he and the team are sealed off from the city in Karachi. He brought his wife and children out when he was playing in the PSL, and they spent time visiting friends and going to cafes. In between training this week, he has been stuck in the team