Joe Root has thrown his weight behind Moeen Ali as Cricket Australia investigate the the claim made in Ali’s new autobiography that an Australian player called him ‘Osama’ during the 2015 Ashes series.
The allegation posed by the England batsman came in the first Test of the series in Cardiff when making his Ashes debut.
And as someone who has gone on to add to the 77 runs scored and five wickets taken during that match, England captain Root said Ali had become integral to the squad and its team spirit.
“He’s such a good guy, everybody loves having him around,” Root told Sky Sports News. “He adds so much to the dressing room environment and obviously as part of the tight-knit team we are – we all get on so well together – you’re always there for each other.
“Mo will know he’s got that whole dressing room behind him.”
Moeen discussed the incident with several of his team-mates and spoke to England coach Trevor Baylish, who in turn raised the issue with his counterpart Darren Lehmann.
In launching a probe, Cricket Australia released a statement which read: “We have a clear set of values and behaviours that comes with representing our country.
“Remarks of this nature are unacceptable and have no place in our sport, or in society.”
