Irish-born Eoin Morgan faces criticism online for accepting CBE award

Eoin Morgan became the first England captain to win the 50-over World Cup this year at home. However, the Irish-born cricketer has faced a backlash recently on social media for “selling his soul” after accepting the CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) honour from the Queen.

The 33-year-old is one of England’s most prolific scorers in the 50- and 20-over formats but his nationality earned him a backlash for accepting the honour. While one called him a “turncoat”, another said he is “selling the soul for the Queen’s shilling”. However, he also had his set of supporters.

Morgan said he was very proud to have been honoured with the prestigious title and added the series of awards that have come for the England players who helped their country win the World Cup in July this year meant a lot.

“Winning the World Cup has been a dream come true and the honours and awards that have come since that day at Lord’s really mean a lot to everyone connected with the team,” Dublin Live quoted him as saying.

“The events of that day at Lord’s were the result of many years of hard work and dedication, and I see this honour – and the honours for my team-mates – as honours for the whole team, for everything they put into winning that tournament and getting over the line.”

Eoin Morgan always wanted to play for England

Morgan, who also became the first England captain to lead the Three Lions in two successive 50-over World Cups (2015 and 2019), never hid his desire to play for England even when lining out in the green for the country of his birth.

In 2010, he told the Sunday Times that he has harboured dreams of playing for England since he was 13 and he had no reservations over it. Morgan’s mother is English and he has held a British passport since he was born.

Apart from Morgan, Jos Buttler and Joe Root were conferred the MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).