ICC World Cup 2019: Reason behind Moeen Ali missing the Bangladesh match

England is the hosts and the team is also the favourites of the 2019 World Cup bearing in mind the fact the Brits are the ICC’s number-one ranked ODI team. The Eoin Morgan-captained unit started in an emphatic manner, beating South Africa by 104 runs at the Kennington Oval in London. However, the Brits experienced somewhat different fortunes in their second match against Pakistan.

At the Trent Bridge in Nottingham, Morgan’s men slumped to a 14-run defeat against Pakistan. England is currently playing their third match of the mega event against Bangladesh at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. For the game, the home team made only one change. Even as Liam Plunkett made a comeback after missing the second match, all-rounder Moeen Ali couldn’t find a place in the playing eleven.

However, the 31-year-old from Birmingham wasn’t dropped from the team. As per Cricbuzz’s live commentary, he wasn’t dropped. Rather, he has taken a paternity leave as his wife is close to giving birth to their second child. Nevertheless, there’s no news on when the cricketer will return. England lost the toss and was put in to bat first on a bright and sunny morning.

Moeen Ali – A crucial player in the England camp

As far as Moeen is concerned, he didn’t have the best of outings thus far in the 50-overs tournament, especially with the bat in hand. He got out for three versus the Proteas and was also expensive with the ball, having conceded 63 runs, though the tweaker picked up one wicket. Against Pakistan, Moeen accounted for three wickets but flattered to deceive with the willow.

Moeen being absent for the Bangladesh game meant that Adil Rashid, who hasn’t been that impressive either, retained his position in the playing eleven. Moeen has been one of England’s key players ever since their 2015 World Cup exit. The all-rounder has delivered in all the departments.

In 98 ODIs, Ali has scored 1713 runs at an average of 25.56 with three centuries and five half-centuries. With the leather, he has 83 wickets in the 50-overs format. Whenever he comes back from his personal commitments, it would be important for him to pull his socks up and start delivering again.