England off-spinner Moeen Ali on Saturday said the senior national team is ready to welcome Ollie Robinson back as the pacer is free to resume playing again after serving out a partly-suspended 8-match ban for his historical racist comments on social media.
Ollie Robinson, who made his Test debut against New Zealand in June, was removed from the squad ahead of the 2nd Test after his historic offensive social media posts resurfaced during the first Test.
Robinson was fined USD 4,400 and handed an 8-game ban, five of which are suspended for two years. He missed England’s second Test against New Zealand and two T20 Blast games for his county during an investigation over the comments.
The initial one-game suspension was imposed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, before Robinson withdrew himself from selection for his county side Sussex for the T20 games. Robinson has admitted to breaching two ECB directives in relation to a number of offensive comments he made on Twitter in 2012-14.
“Of course I would welcome him back. I have only known him for a short period but he seems a very nice guy and I get on really well with him,” Moeen Ali said.
“I am sure he has learnt from his mistakes. He has done his time in terms of the ban. I think everybody makes mistakes – you forgive, forget, carry on with life and try and move on.”
ECB did the right thing: Ali on Robinson punishment
Moeen Ali also lauded the ECB for taking punitive action, which he believes is a step in the right direction when it comes to dealing with discrimination and sending a message to young cricketers across the country.
Mooen Ali said the Robinson saga highlights that even young cricketers, coming through the ranks have to be careful with what they say and post on social media.
“I thought the ECB did the right thing pulling him out of the Test series and I think [the punishment is sufficient], that the right thing has been done,” Ali said.
“Regardless of the length of the punishment, the fact there was punishment was good.
“It’s all about looking forward now and how you can’t get away with these kinds of things, that things need to change and people need to change.
“Even as a young player coming through the county circuit, you have to be careful with things you tweet.”
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