T20 World Cup 2024: Moeen Ali confident on taking new role as England skipper

Moeen Ali prepared to step in as England's cricket captain.
Ali sees the potential role as a great honor.
England is in a T20I series against Pakistan.

Moeen Ali is confident that his potential role as England’s cricket team captain will be business as usual, with current skipper Jos Buttler possibly departing for the birth of his third child.

Ali expressed that stepping into the captaincy would be a significant honor.

“Obviously if it happens, then it’s a great honour as it always is,” said Moeen, England’s T20I and ODI vice-captain. “I’ll be fine. Nothing will change too much, it’s just taking over from what he’s [Buttler] doing and then when he comes back, he takes over.”

“For me, it’s just whatever will happen, will happen. It’s not really difficult, to be honest with you, because we speak often, me and Jos. We talk about other things, the team and all that. We’re on the same page anyway.”

England is in the midst of a four-match T20I series against Pakistan. The opening game on May 22 at Headingley was called off due to rain. The next match is scheduled for May 25 at Edgbaston.

As vice-captain, Ali is prepared to assume leadership for the series or even the T20 World Cup, starting June 1 in the USA and West Indies.

The series’ remaining three games are crucial for both teams, serving as their final practice before the T20 World Cup, with no warm-up matches planned.

“It was obviously disappointing [on Wednesday] because Leeds is a great place to go and play. Playing cricket is always the best preparation. I know most of the guys have been playing. A few guys have been training but it’s not the same, so hopefully, they’ll get some game time.”

“These three games should be enough for the guys to get going and there’s a bit of time in the West Indies, a few training sessions. We’ll be fine. There’s no real excuses from our side,” Ali remarked.

England, placed in Group B, will start their T20 World Cup defense on June 4 against Scotland in Barbados.

Pak vs Eng series schedule (remaining)

25 May – 2nd T20I, Birmingham

28 May – 3rd T20I, Cardiff

30 May – 4th T20I, The Oval

England’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024

Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood.