Munir Ali's Agreement with Moeen for Focused Cricket Training at 13 Years Old | Warwickshire | The Guardian

Moeen Ali’s return to Birmingham is not just special for him, but for his family as well. Munir Ali, Moeen’s father, is a coach and “uncle” to many in the community, and is thrilled to have his son back at his hometown club, Birmingham Bears, after 16 years away. Although Moeen has already captained Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred, his three-year deal to lead Birmingham Bears in the T20 Blast is a significant moment for the family and the city.

Munir, who runs the Moeen Ali High Performance Cricket Academy with his family, spoke about the significance of his son’s return while sitting down for coffee near Edgbaston. Despite being a south Birmingham resident for seven years, Munir had not met the author until this interview. He noted that Moeen is a popular figure in the community: “Oh yes, Moeen is ‘cousin’ to a lot of people. I’m always ‘uncle’”, he says with a smile. Munir persuaded Moeen to come back to Warwickshire even though Worcestershire and Yorkshire had offered more money. Munir is happy to have his son closer to run the academy even better.

There are multiple benefits to Moeen’s return, such as his increased proximity as a mentor and role model for aspiring cricketers. Additionally, Munir received a 40% discount for the Edgbaston indoor school as part of the comeback deal, making it more accessible for the local community to use. Munir typically trains around 80 to 100 youngsters a week and spends roughly £25,000 for six months of usage. The discount is welcome.

Munir’s life has been one of hard work and dedication. Born in Birmingham to an English mother and Pakistani father, Munir moved to Pakistan when he was ten and returned to Birmingham when his parents separated. He and his twin brother, Shabir, struggled initially with English upon their return and developed stammers. Munir trained to become a psychiatric nurse after O-levels and eventually married Shabir’s sister-in-law. Through their mutual love for cricket, the families flourished; Moeen and his cousin, Kabir, became England internationals, while his other son, Kadeer, is a first-class cricketer.

Inspired by his own upbringing, Munir made a promise to himself that his children would not go through the struggles he did in his youth. The Ali brothers spent most of their time playing cricket, rain or shine, investing in a bowling machine for the garden by taking out loans from friends. Their enthusiasm and dedication were unrelenting, and Munir and Shabir sacrificed much to see their children succeed.

Initially, Munir Ali thought if one could play first-class cricket, that would be good. His two nephews, Kabir and Moeen, both showed promise, but it was Moeen’s attitude, lack of fear, and impressive shots that set him apart. Ali remembers Kabir once telling him, “Uncle, work hard with Moeen, he’ll become a superstar. He’s got something different.” So when Moeen was 13, Ali made him a deal: “give me two years of your life and you can do whatever you want after that. No friends, no girlfriends… just cricket, cricket, cricket.”

As Kabir and Moeen flourished in club cricket and moved through the county’s pathway, Ali’s private academy started to take shape. He would take his bowling machine to Saltley Academy school in Bordesley Green and organized sessions for the local area, trying to keep the price down to involve as many as possible. In time, he moved this to Edgbaston, but relations with Warwickshire were not always straightforward, with Kabir and then Moeen leaving for Worcestershire.

“We didn’t get what we deserved at Edgbaston,” says Ali. “Kabir went on an Under-19s tour to South Africa, was the top wicket-taker, but at the end, five boys got rookie contracts and he wasn’t one of them. I spoke to Worcestershire, Warwickshire found out about this, and only then offered us a contract. I asked what the difference was now compared to a few days earlier? I got called disloyal and a troublemaker.”

It was a tag Ali continued to hear, as well as whispers that some club officials were questioning the relatively low rates he was being charged. A desire to keep his talented son meant this was tempered to a degree. But at the end of 2006, aged 19 and having made his first XI debut that summer, Moeen was fatefully told he was still “five years” away from becoming a regular.

“I was shocked,” Ali says. “I couldn’t sleep all night when I was told this. Five years? I decided there and then we were wasting our time. So I went to Worcestershire, and when Moeen’s name came up, they grabbed the opportunity.”

Moeen’s move came as he was starting to embrace his faith more, and the fresh start it allowed him was not insignificant. Ali, more culturally Muslim than practising, says he worried when his son grew the now-famous beard. “He was mixing with guys who were religious-minded, and in those days lots of talk of terrorism. But Moeen said not to worry and his belief was right – it made him a stronger person.”

Ali refused to move, ignoring the chatter about his son’s departure and blocking out the booking sheet at Edgbaston’s indoor school. Along the way, he claims, requests for funding were knocked back without good reasons, and he believes some parents were told to stay away from him.

“There were times when I felt like the most hated man in Warwickshire,” says Ali.

Munir sits on an advisory panel of local coaches, faith leaders, and community champions to drive greater diversity at the club. He is optimistic that the academy boys who are British Asian will make the first team, but concerns remain the priority of education over cricket in the community.

Greetham worked with Moeen in his early years and says that without the high volume training offered by academies such as Ali’s, Warwickshire would be “much poorer” and Moeen’s return is “an emotional moment” both personally and for the club.

As we wrap up, I ask which moment along the way has been Munir’s proudest. “It is still to come,” comes the reply. “Moeen will be awarded his OBE this summer and that will be the icing on the cake – my son being recognised by the king. I am planning to write a book about it all, called the Making of Moeen Ali. I sacrificed my life for my children and I’m happy that I did. They are good, humble boys. Not arrogant. And that makes me just as proud.”

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