“It just shouldn't happen” - Moeen Ali warns Indian-owned The Hundred teams over boycotting Pakistan players

Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has expressed his opinion on the reports of the four Indian-owned franchises in The Hundred considering shadow-banning Pakistani cricketers amid the tensions between India and Pakistan.

Speaking to The Telegraph Sport, Moeen Ali asserted that the discriminatory behaviour has no place in the United Kingdom and urged the ECB officials to make sure that such things don’t take place.

It’s important to note that Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds are currently owned by Indian owners. Furthermore, the all-rounder went on to add that it would be a massive shame if Pakistan players miss out.

It’s worth noting that the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises haven’t signed a Pakistani player since the conclusion of the first season, following terror attacks in Mumbai in November 2008. 

"In the UK, I'm not sure that can happen - and I hope it doesn't happen. It just shouldn't happen, hopefully it won't happen. We just have to wait and see if it does, but I think it'd be a massive shame, and I'm sure the ECB will definitely keep an eye out,” Moeen told Telegraph Sport.

"There'll be a group of players that will speak up. There'll be things done about it. I think players should speak up. Anyone that has any sort of concern for these kind of things - it doesn't matter if they have Pakistani heritage - should speak up,” he added.

"Obviously, the news is very new. So I've not really had a chance to speak to anyone, but most of the players would be on the same page. It'd be really interesting to see what happens, because I genuinely think other countries can do what they want, obviously we're not in control of those things, but in the UK, we have a bit more say about these things,” he concluded.

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