Moeen Ali has become the first England player to confirm unreservedly that he will be available for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh. The future of the tour was in the balance after an attack on a Dhaka cafe in July killed 20 — mostly foreign — hostages, with the Islamic State group claiming responsibility.
But all-rounder Ali, speaking in Cardiff yesterday ahead of England’s fifth and final one-day international against Pakistan in the Welsh capital today, said: “If selected, I’ll definitely go. I’m pretty happy with everything and really looking forward to it,” the 29-year-old Worcestershire off-spinner and left-handed batsman added. “I’ve been there a few times, five or six.”
Following the Dhaka attack, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sent an inspection team to Bangladesh led by long-serving security chief Reg Dickason. After he reported back, the ECB said last month that the tour, which includes three one-day international and two Test match fixtures in October and November, would go ahead as planned. “My view is you’re not safe anywhere these days,” said Ali. “I think you can be anywhere and still not be safe.”
England assistant coach Paul Farbrace, who was with the Sri Lanka squad when their bus came under armed attack in Lahore in 2009, has also said he intends to travel to Bangladesh. But England one-day captain Eoin Morgan, who was among a group of players given a security briefing by Dickason, said Friday he had still to make up his mind.
Meanwhile, wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow told several British newspapers: “I’ve not made a 100 % decision but I know within my mind that I have a lot of faith in Reggie. I’ve been on a heck of a lot of tours with him, he’s known me since I was a young boy. So I’ve got a lot of faith in him.”
Ali said he had no qualms about anyone taking their time over deciding whether or not to commit to the tour. “It’s really tough (to decide), even for myself. “Everyone’s different, and has their own views on things — and as a team, you back other other’s decisions. It’s up to the individual. There’s no pressure on anyone — it’s up to that person and how he feels.”
Australia cancelled their tour of Bangladesh last October for security reasons and then withdrew their side from the Under-19 World Cup in the country at the start of this year. England, however, fielded a team in the youth tournament.
Last month International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson welcomed England’s decision to go ahead with their tour of Bangladesh by saying: “It is important to the global game of cricket that it can be played safely in as many countries as possible.”

Irfan out of England tour
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan has been ruled out of the remainder of the tour of England, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced yesterday.
The giant 7ft 1in (2.1 metres) Irfan, who was himself only called into the squad as an injury replacement for Mohammad Hafeez on August 27, managed just five legitimate overs in Thursday’s fourth one-day international against England at Headingley before going off with cramps to the visible annoyance of coach Mickey Arthur.
Pakistan lost the match by four wickets to go 4-0 down in a five-match series. But it might have been different had the 34-year-old Irfan, who removed openers Jason Roy and Alex Hales in a return of two for 26 as England slumped to 72 for four, stayed on the field in what was his only match of the tour.
The towering left-armer, who conceded three wides, also received two official warnings from the umpires for running on the pitch. Fellow paceman Hasan Ali, set to feature in the fifth and final ODI in Cardiff today, has taken Irfan’s place in the Pakistan squad for the lone Twentyt20 international against England at Manchester’s Old Trafford on Wednesday — the last match of the tour.
The PCB statement said: “Irfan initially suffered cramps in his hamstring in that match (at Headingley) and came off to receive treatment. He returned to play and later on complained about cramps in his left and right calf that prevented him bowling further in the match. He will return to Pakistan and will work on his fitness in the National Cricket Academy (in Lahore).”
Earlier, Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood, speaking to reporters in Cardiff before Irfan was ruled out of the tour, said: “Definitely Mickey was unhappy (to see Irfan go off) and as bowling coach I was unhappy as well. We had a chance to win that game (at Headingley) the other day.
“If we can get two (more) wickets it will be a different ball game. Unfortunately, everyone gets cramp. He is a big guy and his body is totally different to a normal human.”