Moeen Ali is crowned Player of the Year
England and Worcestershire all-rounder Moeen Ali capped a memorable summer by being named Player of the Year at the 2014 Talk Home Mobile Asian Cricket Awards at Lord’s.
“It doesn’t get any better than this,” said the 27-year-old from Birmingham, who beat fellow England players Ravi Bopara and Adil Rashid to the award. “I feel very proud and priviliged to be here. It’s a fantastic achievement for the Asian Cricket Awards to be at the home of cricket.
“I’ve had a great year. It’s been fantastic; I’ve loved and cherished every minute of it. Hopefully I can keep it up for a few more years.
“I felt honoured to be in the top four for this award, and I am very proud to be the first guy to win the Asian Cricket Awards Player of the Year.”
Moeen made his one-day international debut in the West Indies in February and was called up by England for the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh in March and April.
He was subsequently selected for the full Test side for the summer tours by Sri Lanka and India, scoring an unbeaten 108 to almost save the second Test against Sri Lanka, as well as career-best figures of 6-67 in the third Test against India.
Elsewhere, former England captain Nasser Hussain OBE picked up a special Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to cricket, while other winners on the night included the Middlesex and England Lions bowler Ravi Patel, who won the Young Player of the Year Award, and Worcestershire player and coach Salma Bi, who picked up the Woman in Cricket Award.
Presenters of the 12 awards included high-profile figures such as former England captain Mike Gatting OBE, the Baroness Warsi and ex-Pakistan international Azhar Mahmood.
“It has been a fantastic day for cricket,” said Gatting, who is now managing director of the England & Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) Cricket Partnerships programme.
“To see a community spreading the word of cricket is fantastic. When something like these awards turn up, it doesn’t matter what community, we try and support the game of cricket.”
The Talk Home Mobile Asian Cricket Awards aim to improve the awareness of the positive impact made by Asians within the British cricket industry and to engage with organisations and individuals to help increase participation. ACA co-founder Baljit Rihal said: “We are honoured to be able to host our first awards in such a prestigious setting in the year that they are celebrating their 200th anniversary.
“The Asian community currently makes up more than 30 per cent of all participation in the game of cricket throughout the UK, with a high percentage involved at recreational level.
“More can certainly be done by the authorities and county boards to engage in programmes to establish structured pathways into the professional game, but we are very encouraged by the ECB’s commitment to these awards – and we believe we can collaborate in further engaging with the Asian community as laid out in their strategic plan.
“The support we have received from our headline sponsor, Talk Home Mobile,
The ECB and The Club Cricket Conference in putting together this event has been tremendous. It is a positive statement of their intent and commitment to the British Asian community.
“Our hope is that the awards will become a significant event in the awareness and development of British Asians in the game. It is a great opportunity to bring together decision makers and people who we expect to make a positive impact where it matters.”
Winners
GRASSROOTS AWARD (sponsored by Diageo)
Gopi Raj (England Tamil Cricket League)
AMATEUR PLAYER OF THE YEAR (sponsored by Sky Express)
Simran Panesar (Warwickshire U19s)
PROFESSIONAL YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (sponsored by Air India)
Ravi Patel (Middlesex, England Lions)
WOMAN IN CRICKET (sponsored by Natco Foods Ltd)
Salma Bi (Worcestershire)
COACH OF THE YEAR (sponsored by England & Wales Cricket Board)
Qasim Ali (Lancashire South Asian Talent Search, England Physical Disability Squad)
MEDIA (sponsored by Getty Images)
Isa Guha (IPL TV presenter, former England bowler)
BEHIND THE SCENES (Sponsored by International FX)
Amjad Aziz (Vice-Chairman Birmingham Cricket League – Parks League)
ASIAN CRICKET CLUB OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Waitrose)
London Tigers (Inner-city London)
INSPIRATION AWARD (Sponsored by British Asian Trust)
Naz Khan (Chairman, Attock CC)
PROFESSIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Talk Home Mobile)
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire and England)
THE FOUNDERS – SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
Wasim Khan MBE
THE FOUNDERS – LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Winner: Nasser Hussain OBE
