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LONDON: England cricketer Moeen Ali has been awarded an OBE for services to cricket in the Queen’s Birthday Honours as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The cricketer conceded that “the door is open” to a possible return to Test cricket under Brendon McCullum’s new England regime.

Joining Moeen Ali on the OBE lists are Olympic gold medallist Eve Muirhead and ex-Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand.

Footballer Gareth Bale of Wales finds himself upgraded to the list of people granted an MBE during the Queen’s honors.

Moeen, 34, retired from Tests last summer, after claiming 195 wickets in 64 matches, in addition to 2914 runs at 28.29, with five centuries. He remains an integral member of the white-ball squad, having played in the victorious 2019 World Cup squad, and was England’s stand-in captain in their recent series in the Caribbean.

Speaking about the occasion, Moeen acknowledged that his honor reflects his role-model status among the British Asian community that remains under-represented in the national team.

“It is obviously an honour and the more you think about it, the more you realise how nice it is and how rewarding it is,” Moeen said. “More than anything, I know it makes my parents happy and that’s the most important thing – one of the main reasons for accepting. It’s amazing and my family are really proud and happy”.

“I think it’s more about the journey I’ve been on, my background, my upbringing and all that,” he added. “Maybe the way I played a little bit and the way I go about my cricket, maybe that’s what people have liked or whatever.”

Ali also suggested that the reports of his return to test cricket are true with the appointment of Brendon McCullum playing an intriguing role in reconsideration.

The all-rounder announced his retirement from Test cricket in September 2021 but has been a mainstay for the limited-overs side and was part of the Twenty20 team to reach the semi-finals of last year’s World Cup.

He briefly has had stints as stand-in captain for the limited-overs side in absence of Eoin Morgan. He scored 2,914 runs and took 195 wickets in 64 Test matches, having made his debut against Sri Lanka in 2014.