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An Evening With Moeen Ali OBE | The Arts Club Dubai

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We are thrilled to welcome Moeen Ali OBE. World Cup champion, celebrated all-rounder, and one of cricket’s most distinctive voices. Beyond his achievements on the field, Moeen reflects on his journey as a professional athlete, his experience receiving the Order of the British Empire, and the personal values that have shaped his leadership and global influence. The conversation touches on the demands of elite sport, identity in the public eye, philanthropy, mentorship, and the responsibility that accompanies success, offering rare first-hand insight from the world stage to the quieter moments that defined his discipline and resilience.

Leila-Maria Faddoul:

Hello and welcome to the Culture Counter, a podcast by the Arts Club. Through conversations, we explore the ideas, people and This conversation was recorded at the Arts Club in Dubai as part of our cultural program, and explores the journey of an international cricketer beyond the game. In this episode of The Culture his career in cricket, the international teams and leagues, him both on and off the field. He discusses teamwork, embrace change, and navigating while staying true to oneself. The conversation was moderated by Faris Al-Raqqad, TV and radio presenter. We hope you enjoy.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

There's so much to talk to you I want to talk about one of the first things that comes up when somebody googles you, which is that you are a team first player. Um, tell me a little bit about that in your career.

Moeen Ali:

Uh, I'm not sure really. I mean, I think mainly because the way I'm around the players a lot of the time, and I think a lot of the younger players in particular, when they first come into the side, I, my job, I felt, was to try and make them feel part of the team straight away. Part of, um, what we're doing we're going as a team. And um, I think, and they take a liking to that a lot of the time. So then whenever they're under pressure or whenever they feel they need someone to speak to, um, I feel then they just come to me and we talk and I just try and make them feel about themselves and feel good about themselves, feel good about the game. And then I feel I've done my job Um, it comes back around to me I'm talking to them about these myself a lot of the time about

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Absolutely. And you talk about it like it's quite casual, but I think in elite sports, to have that team minded spirit is actually very valuable. Do you think you learned that how you are?

Moeen Ali:

I learned it along the way. I learned a lot from other people, and I obviously come across different different characters. And, um, some people like to to do their own thing. Some people like to help out. And I've, when I was a young guy I went to a county that was very felt, this is me, this is how I And um, I learnt from them guys, Um they helped me. So then my job as I got older and a senior player was to then help the youngsters and hopefully those youngsters, when they get older, they can help uh, youngsters. So it's almost like a cycle. And I just feel like I get more For me, I feel better about myself when I when I do these things.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Absolutely. And I want to talk a little bit about because you talked about growing up in Birmingham when you got into cricket, did you ever like have that dream? I want to play at the highest I want to play for England. Did you think that was on the Was that what you were gunning towards or is that how it ended up?

Moeen Ali:

Um, no. No. I was always wanting Playing for England was the background where we have many So my cousin played for England, my brother played for England eighteen. My dad had this passion for the anybody else, and he just pushed You're going to play cricket. And he saw obviously a bit of just sacrificed his whole. Life, I guess, in in trying to all, and get us off the streets. We were very inner city in We didn't have much. And so it was initially to get Um, and then he just saw talent. And so I need to put everything And yeah, it paid off. It was it was amazing. But my mindset, my own personal best out of the three of us, And then that just I was very lucky because they're much older than me. So I was training with older And, uh, so anyone around my age way ahead because I was training years older than me. Um, so yeah, in my mind, I to play for England and I just

Faris Al-Raqqad:

And you did in twenty nineteen, World Cup an amazing moment. Can you tell me how you felt? Did you was was there a moment about whether or not you would

Moeen Ali:

Um, just take you back to twenty I made my debut twenty fourteen, We had a World Cup and it was one of the worst World Cups we've ever had as an England side. And there was so much talk about how bad we play and we're so far behind other countries, etc. so then for four years we the whole group changed. Um, younger players came in, uh, Um, we, we decided to play as a, um, sacrificing the way we want everything's for the team. So then forward now twenty nineteen World Cups there and we've literally like destroyed a lot of the teams, um, along the way in those four years, uh, I'll be playing a brand of cricket that people loved watching and it was very entertaining. So then when the World Cup it's at home, there's pressure But me personally, I had no World Cup, even though a lot was And um, it was going to be We had to beat India, beat then New Zealand in the final. We were so far behind and almost like a miracle happened where the ball was thrown and hits the guys back. It goes for four and there's You have. You have to give the runs. Uh, so I had this belief that we Cup because of everything we'd Um, and so yeah, it was, it did

Faris Al-Raqqad:

I'm imagining a scene in, in, in where you believe that it's might be having some doubts. Did you have to motivate anyone?

Moeen Ali:

Yeah. I mean, you got to speak to the players and you're talking some guys are super nervous because it's the home World Cup. Um, and then we tied the game and then obviously there's a super over and then you go again. Um, so, you know, I was trying to be as calm as I can and I'd play, I'd say in the dressing room, I'm probably one of the calmer players. And so I'm trying to, um, stay nervous inside, but I'm trying I know it's going to be fine and Um, so yeah, it's you, you've the same time. Some guys can't even watch them wall or whatever it is. So, um, yeah, it's, uh, it's it's amazing as well.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

I mean, it's amazing the way you It's like, like I say, you keep Uh, but obviously you've achieved so much and you've motivated others. Uh, you're, you're a glue guy. You keep everybody together. Uh, do you think you are laid Do you think you don't like. Yes, you're ambitious, but you Is there a mindset where you found yourself, where you want to do a good job, but you don't want it to affect you negatively?

Moeen Ali:

Yeah, I'm I'm a big believer of, uh, obviously you love things, right? And, but I try not to love it because everything has to come So I always had this belief too attached to something. Uh, of course you like it and it's your career, but, um, not in your control, so I try That's my big thing. I do work hard. Even though I'm people see me laid back, I'll be hours in the nets and training, etc. but and then just leave the rest to my instincts and things taking over and not not thinking too much about Um, of course I want to win. And you want to win games. You want to win tournaments, you And um, but it's a, there's a my career and I back that, um, and because I feel doubt kills. So as long as I work hard and I care of itself. And if it doesn't, it's okay.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

It sounds like you're saying Alhamdulillah for everything. Do you feel like your faith is a big part of the way you play cricket?

Moeen Ali:

Yeah. So initially when I wasn't this to somebody earlier, I was Um, I, when I felt like I found the truth for me, um, it became number two and it was like, okay, I'm going to give everything and I'm going to play hard and, but it's okay if I don't make it, it's okay if I don't play for England, it's okay. Um, and I remember we had this almost say to the coaches and they should invest in us before And everyone's right. You had fifteen minutes to talk they need to say. And and I just went in nothing And I just I remember sitting and I was like, no, if you pick I'm ready to play. Um, if you don't pick me, it's And they were like, what? They just did not expect it. And I, I was very happy with And I just said, no, that's, And then I got picked straight

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Alhamdulillah. So speaking of, uh, your faith, I was actually, um, quite curious because I'm a British Muslim myself, um, playing an elite sport in a, in the UK, quite predominantly Caucasian Christian viewers. Um, at least it used to be. I want to know, do you feel like carry your faith firmly or got the other guys? Where do you think most of the pressure came from in your career when it came to your identity?

Moeen Ali:

Um, I, I was given very good called Ravi, um, Ravi Bopara, with initially from a young age, as an England player and he And straight away he said to me, don't try and fit in you, be you. If they like you, they like you. If they don't like you, it's And that has always stuck with just gonna be myself. I've got nothing to prove to no Of course you get questions things, but I was. I'm firm, and, um, I feel I have things I do. I have no doubt in it. So, um. Yeah, I was ready and I was the looks I get and, and those And actually, it's not as bad as Most of the time it's never as bad as you think, but it's never bad actually. Um, and yeah, it was, I'm very I'm very proud of carrying the And the pressure comes from obviously, a religion

Faris Al-Raqqad:

I was going to say pressure from Do you ever feel like, okay, I'm a I'm a bit of a symbol or an idol here? Yeah, because.

Moeen Ali:

I'm a human being and you make and stuff like that. But, um, it's more obviously I'm my, my brothers, my sister. And, you know, there's, there's And I, they look at me in a So I've got something to uphold So yeah, for me, it's about And if I'll make mistakes, I know I'll make mistakes, but it's just minimizing those mistakes.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Absolutely. And, uh, I think trophies, obviously world Cup, charts, but in twenty twenty, sure is a huge achievement. I want to know which of those achievements meant the most to you?

Moeen Ali:

I didn't even know what OBE was letter come through and I was It's amazing. My, my, I remember showing my father and he was like, no, this is unbelievable. This is a great achievement. And for me, it was more that My parents were buzzing with it. So like, we went up to receive the award and it was a great day. And for me, it was about them Um, and of course it's, it's a, it's a great achievement. Um, but yeah, there's, the trophies for me are super important. Obviously the two World Cups and, um, the IPL actually were huge. The two IPOs, I think I was the win and win two IPL. So for me, that was like, I can my career, it's not so much my I don't really care about them. It's more like, no, I want we and these things. And, and that's the thing. I look back and when I look back now, I think, oh, it's been amazing.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

I mean, it's amazing. You're even laid back about the But the amazing thing about it saying thank you. Thank you. Because it's beyond just the It's beyond just the cricket. It's cultural significance. And I think you're an inspiration to a whole generation. Do you ever feel that pressure British Asians, especially in

Moeen Ali:

Um, I don't feel the pressure. I feel more, um, I think that obviously play for England inspire even one child to play, not worry about practicing his playing international cricket. We've done a great job. And I think that, that you've Um, and when you see the kids watching you or oh, their watching you and our kids. A big fan that I enjoyed that

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Are your own children is

Moeen Ali:

My son thinks I'm the greatest

Faris Al-Raqqad:

That's amazing.

Moeen Ali:

Yeah he does. He loves cricket and he just He's actually playing the game Um, so he's constantly he just cricketer and never pushed him. I never even tried to push him Um, but he's just my daughter's But my son is, my son is the one Yeah.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

So tell me about when you, uh, Um, what was, what was your

Moeen Ali:

So I retired initially because, side at the time. And I just felt like mentally I Um, the pressure that comes with, even though I come across like a laid back is tiring mentally. It's tiring. The pressure of playing test Um, so when I initially retired, I felt like there was something missing. Still, I felt like I had a bit Then I had that feeling. And then within, I think a year, asking me to play. Somebody got injured and he's retirement and play the ashes? And I thought, what an amazing challenge that would be for me and an opportunity to play ashes at home and then finish properly. I ended up playing the ashes. We drew a is a great series to be part of and, um, yeah, it was fantastic. And then when I finished there, no that in the thing was done. I was done from test cricket how things finished in the end.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Great. And you've worked with some You mentioned Ben Stokes, uh, And of course, uh, working with the likes of Ms. Dhoni must have been amazing. Tell me about the difference uh, in Britain. How how's the culture shift?

Moeen Ali:

It's there's a big difference. Obviously international cricket, the pressure of World Cups is huge, but IPL is like a different beast. IPL is constant pressure. You're there for three weeks, So you go to India, you do a So you've already been there for a while and you're already tired actually. And then the games start and then the pressure flying, playing, flying, playing constantly. Um, but then having to perform So you're one of four players there's eight of you and only So you know you're trying to be If you're not in the team it just drags and it becomes very difficult. But um and then with IPL playing under miss, Ms. Dhoni was probably the greatest captain in my opinion that's ever played the game. I learned so much from him as a He's we actually very similar in very calm about things, try and side, etc. and we bounce a lot But I learned so much of him and incredible player to play with The. One of the biggest things on this bucket list is to play with Emma Stone, and I was very fortunate to have four years with Emma.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

So it doesn't seem like you're slowing down as well for anyone that doesn't know, um, uh, is now a neighbor who lives in the United Arab Emirates. Um, have you have you calmed before being here in the UAE

Moeen Ali:

Yeah, I know, I'm super busy. Uh, things are just coming up. So, um, I'm still playing in the I obviously don't play the leagues, which are leagues around the world now, Um, I'm doing a bit of coaching for England Lions and I've actually doing my first punditry stint for Sky sports coming up in Sri Lanka during the World Cup. So there's always something Um, the second half of Ramadan, I get to spend time here and then after that I go to Pakistan to play. Then I go to UK to play, and again for a year. So I'm hoping to play for another year or two and then calm down.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Calm down. You're probably still keep

Moeen Ali:

I probably will, I'll probably play with my son one day. So I'll go to the UK and then be in the same team as him.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

I'm glad you bring up Ramadan, interviews that you would be Um, tell me about that. Was it? Do you feel like it brought you Um, how did how did you get Because we'd love to hear these Even in the World Cup in The Moroccans. Yeah. When we see these sportsmen do you have to make?

Moeen Ali:

There's adjustments in terms of Um things you have to like you probably eat a little bit more than you probably would do normally. Um, uh, suhoor and also drinking But when the games, honestly, I, an inner strength you get from lot more than you think. I mean, day to day, sometimes we just eat three meals, two meals, whatever it is, and we always feel like we can't live without that. But then when when Ramadan, summer when I used to play and m to nine thirty p m, and we're Uh, obviously physically you're tired, but it's it gives you this inner strength, this inner, whatever it is, just to get through. Just do your job. Just you can do it.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

And I imagine you as somebody when you play not fasted, you've who have never tried that. You think.

Moeen Ali:

So? Yeah. I mean, when you're when I was fasted for the whole you calm down in the warm ups, and reserve your energy. But when you're actually batting as you can. I used to bat sometimes longer the changing room. I'm hungry and I don't want to I'd rather be working, going out But I remember when fasting came in for a warm up and I was I was all over the place because and, and those kind of things. So, um, yeah, it definitely gives you this self-discipline, self-control, and then this inner strength that comes from fasting, for sure, one hundred percent.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Once you decide it's time. You're not going to play any What do you hope audiences,

Moeen Ali:

Um, a couple of things. I think the guys I played with, I ever want from them is to say, playing with this guy or I loved Um, and from the fans and from watching and we enjoyed the way Um, you, you, you entertained us when you played and, and things like that. I mean, there's a lot of bad lot of bad days. So, but it was all about entertaining and just doing my part, my little bit, whatever it is. Um, and like I said earlier, if to take on the game, then I

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Is there any aspect of your do it again, you would?

Moeen Ali:

Uh, no. So if my whole career, to when I was, how.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Would you do it differently?

Moeen Ali:

I wouldn't change anything. I would just love to do it I wouldn't change it. I wouldn't change anything. I wouldn't at all.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

And which stage of your career Or which version of Moin Ali? Which version of yourself would you say you're most proud of today?

Moeen Ali:

Uh. Good question. Um, I think just representing Being able to represent England the, from where we came from. Um, it's, it's, uh, it's a, I it's actually a big achievement very inner city, very like well-off or anything like that. And then to go and represent Um, playing for England is one for one for a long time. For me, that's my best, best

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Absolutely. Now that you're here in the United Arab Emirates, tell me about how you see the cricket culture here compared to the UK or India or anywhere else you've played? What's unique about the UAE?

Moeen Ali:

UAE has um, I think it's changed a lot over the last three or four years. Uh, a lot of coaches are coming Um, you get the facilities are Um, obviously the weather's So you're always outside, you're playing, you can train outdoors indoors. Um, yeah, it's it's just It's going the, the ground's There's stadiums, there's lights that we don't really get in the We get it in the summer and then the winter it's just everything's indoors. Um, yeah, there's so much about Um, and a lot of players Um, which is, which is great standard of training and then join your training. Um, and all the countries that England Lions are here at the moment. All the countries come here and do the preseason and then go back. So UAE has everything.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Absolutely. And everyone is moving to the We all experience the traffic Um, I want to ask in terms of, uh, in terms of cricket, what is it exactly? I mean, obviously you come from it about this specific sport world that draws you in and

Moeen Ali:

Uh, I think the most, the, the it teaches you a lot about life. So you have a lot of bad days. Not every day you can, you can happen for you. And you just got to keep going. You got to keep training. You got to keep trying. Um, so I just found in my life, and be as level as I can. So when I had a great day, it's when I had a bad day. Just don't get low. Don't get down about things. So try and stay on this sort of and calm as I can about things. And I find that it was a great, um, lesson in my life about these, uh, the cricket has just got this unique thing of always humbling you. You can be amazing for the week. And within the next week, you could be the worst player and you feel like the worst player around. So you've just got to always just back that you, you, you,

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Absolutely. And that's not just good advice lot of industries as well, like a smashing month and then the media as well. I get to speak to amazing people months, absolutely dry. How do you keep that level head? How do you keep yourself from Uh, if things aren't going so you remind yourself that it's

Moeen Ali:

I've always had this, um, sort of quote in my head, not even a quote. It's just a, thing where I don't So I don't look to the future and definitely don't look at the past. I try and stay in the present as like when as soon as you start I'm going to be in two years bit of fear. And if you're dwelling too much And there's nothing you can do So try and stay in the present Um, and if I'm not playing well, or if things are not going my way, trust that it will turn around. As long as I feel like I'm doing Um, and you know, when it's your and you put the hours in, you

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Absolutely. That's great advice for us, But if there was a young cricketer or any young athlete and they asked you for advice, I'm sure you give it a lot as well. With your coaching, what is the you'd give to young athletes?

Moeen Ali:

I would, um, and I try and say is if somebody I mean, it's And have competition. But if somebody in your age than you, if he's working and you do five hours a day, if he's hitting one thousand balls, you So I was just trying to always Um, I believe as a young player, especially in cricket, it's all about volume. And if somebody's hitting ten somebody's hitting one thousand thousand is more than likely So nothing can replace hard

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Would you say consistency is natural ability when it comes

Moeen Ali:

Uh, yeah, definitely, I think Consistency is is big. Natural ability also in cricket It is a blessing. But then with that, if you don't put the work in, you're just But if you're consistent and and training and working hard. You don't have to be so

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Absolutely. I mean, I sort of asked you this question before, but I'm brought back to it when you mentioned that you try and stay in the present and we know you're ambitious. We know you wanted to play for Is there a legacy you want to survives after you're gone?

Moeen Ali:

No, not at all. Not at all. Honestly, not at all. I think, um, my next project or probably feel more proud of is Honestly, my son playing. I can't even go watch him play. I've watched so many games. I've been a part of so many I can't watch him play. Uh, not yet anyway. Um, so, you know, if he makes it That will be me. Very happy. Yeah.

Faris Al-Raqqad:

Thank you so much for joining us And , will you be hanging

Leila-Maria Faddoul:

Thank you for listening to the the Arts Club. You can explore more wherever you listen to podcasts.