Moeen Ali announces retirement from international cricket

England all-rounder Moeen Ali has announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 37, according to an interview with the Daily Mail published on Saturday.

The Birmingham-born cricketer, known for his left-handed batting and right-arm off-spin, has represented England in 68 Tests, 138 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and 92 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) since making his debut in 2014. His most recent international appearance was in June.

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“I’m 37 now and wasn’t selected for the upcoming Australia series,” Ali explained. “I’ve played a lot of cricket for England, and it feels like the right time for the next generation to come through. I’ve done my part.”

Ali, who made history as the first cricketer of Asian origin to captain England in T20Is, has scored five centuries in Tests and three in ODIs. He has also taken 366 wickets across all formats. He was part of the England teams that won the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022.

Holding the record for the fastest half-century in T20Is by reaching fifty in just 16 balls against South Africa in 2022, Ali expressed pride in his career. “When you first start playing for England, you never know how many games you’ll get to play. To have played nearly 300 matches … those were the best days of my life,” he said.

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Looking ahead, Ali plans to continue playing in franchise cricket and is interested in pursuing coaching. “I could try to hold on and make a comeback for England, but I know realistically it won’t happen,” he admitted. “Even though I’m retiring, it’s not because I feel I’m not good enough. It’s about understanding that the team needs to evolve and making a realistic decision about my place in that process.”