Moeen Ali scoops top honour at Asian Cricket Awards for second successive year
ByPA Sport
Published 13/10/2015 at 22:08 GMT
England and Worcestershire all-rounder Moeen Ali has won the Cricketer of the Year prize for the second year running at the Asian Cricket Awards.
Moeen Ali is currently on tour with England
Image credit: PA Sport
England and Worcestershire all-rounder Moeen Ali has won the Cricketer of the Year prize for the second year running at the Asian Cricket Awards.
Moeen, who is currently on tour with England in the United Arab Emirates, won the award in 2014 at the inaugural edition of the event, and scooped the same prize on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old beat off competition from fellow England international Adil Rashid, who is making his Test debut against Pakistan, and Warwickshire captain Varun Chopra.
In a ceremony held at Lord's, Moeen's father Munir received the award on his behalf, while the left-hander, in a short video message, said he was "very proud and honoured" by the recognition.
Moeen and Rashid were made to endure a tough day out in the field for England on Tuesday as Pakistan racked up 286 for four in the first Test at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Nevertheless, the award caps a memorable year for Moeen, named in a Wisden list of cricketers for the year, and who began it by being a key performer during England's tour of West Indies.
Moeen then followed it up with runs and wickets against New Zealand at home, before helping England to an Ashes triumph, which included a half-century in his home town of Birmingham.
Moeen's father Munir, speaking before the award ceremony, told Press Association Sport: "Every time Moeen comes on television, all the boys are there supporting him.
"They're very happy for him.
"My dream was for one of my boys to make it to the top and Moeen obviously was very, very talented."
Commenting on Moeen's progress with England, which began with a one-day international away against West Indies in February 2014, Munir said: "(Moeen's debut) was the happiest day of my life.
"It's all in your minds and dreams but for that dream to become a reality is a different thing altogether.
"Moeen said to me, he said: 'Don't get too excited. I've made it to international cricket.
"Don't get too excited because you'll only be disappointed when I get dropped! (But) I was very happy, because he knew that I was very happy."
The Young Player of the Year award was won by Haseeb Hameed, who made his Lancashire debut this season having already led England's Under-19 side against their Australian counterparts.
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