The Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) was dramatically disrupted by escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, leading to a week-long suspension of the tournament.
Among those caught in the chaos was Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Moeen Ali, who revealed the harrowing experience of ensuring his family’s safety as military conflicts intensified.
The England cricketer, of Pakistani heritage, was in India with his wife and children when the situation spiraled, while his parents were in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), perilously close to the sites targeted by India in Operation Sindoor.
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Moeen Ali Reveals His Parents Were in PoK During India-Pakistan Tensions
Speaking on the Beard Before Wicket podcast, Moeen Ali opened up about the chaotic experience, detailing the panic, misinformation, and logistical challenges that defined his exit from India. He revealed that his parents were in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (Pok), which is only about an hour away from a location India destroyed in Operation Sindoor.
"My parents were actually in Kashmir (PoK) at the time… in Pakistan, only about an hour away from where the strikes happened, probably. Maybe a bit farther. It was a bit crazy, and then they managed to get the only flights out on that day. I was glad they got out, but it was crazy," Moeen said as quoted on the Beard Before Wicket podcast.
Moeen described the rapid escalation of the situation following initial attacks.
"It was mad. Obviously, there were those attacks in Kashmir before everything really kicked off. Then within no time, things just rapidly escalated, and all of a sudden, we were in the middle of it. It felt like we were in the middle of a war, but obviously we didn't hear anything (like missiles striking). All of a sudden, you're just scrambling to get out of the country and just trying to make sure your family's fine. People are worried about you back home, and you just want to make sure they're at ease as well," he added.
He talked about the confusion among players in India as they grappled with conflicting opinions about the crisis. Some of his teammates downplayed the situation, citing past Indo-Pak tensions that de-escalated, while others feared retaliation could lead to full-scale conflict.
"People weren't quite sure what was happening or how things were. I spoke to a lot of the guys. Some of them were like, ‘There won't be a war; everything will be fine. These things have happened before.' Some guys were like, ‘I think there'll be a war. I think there'll be some sort of retaliation or whatever you want to call it.'"
Moeen expressed distrust in media reports, making it difficult to gauge the true severity of the situation. The fear of escalating conflict and the practical concern of flight cancellations were paramount as being stranded in India was a real risk.
"There's so much lying going on that it's hard to believe people, especially the news outlets and journalists. You don't know exactly what's going on, and that's the scary bit, because you don't know where you stand. You don't know if things are going to escalate quickly. The thing we were most worried about was flights getting cancelled and not being able to get out. But it must be so much harder for the local players or for guys who are Pakistani or Indian, stuck there not knowing what's going to happen."
The 37-year-old explained his decision to leave India before the IPL’s official suspension on May 9, driven by both the escalating tensions and a viral infection.
"So the night before they cancelled it… I’m one of those who doesn’t care what we’re playing in the IPL or the PSL. What’s important is to be safe. Or try and be as safe as possible. I mean you’re never safe anywhere in the world. But try to obviously protect your family and kids as much as you can. All that kind of stuff and just make sure everything’s good. I was just out (of the tournament) before they even cancelled it to be honest. To be honest I wasn’t well, so I was really sick at the same time. So I reckon I had some viral thing or whatever it was. I was really really bad, and I was just out. I was just making sure like I was fit enough to just get out of there."
Moeen praised the KKR franchise and IPL organizers for their support, praising them to ensure players’ safety during the crisis.
"They looked after us really well. They were like ‘Whatever you want, whatever you need, we’ll try and support you as much as we can’. So they were amazing at that but it was crazy man. It’s crazy to be… not in the middle of it, because you don’t experience anything, but it’s happening around you and it’s obviously around the corner. Obviously having a Pakistani background and being in India while this is happening. I genuinely believe these are the same people, obviously just split by borders, exactly the same people, good people on both sides. Amazing food is the same, everything’s the same," Moeen concluded.
Moeen Ali Misses IPL 2025 Phase 2
Following the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, the IPL 2025 resumed on May 17. However, few of the overseas players were not willing to travel back to India.
Moeen was one of them. But it was not security concerns but a viral infection that forced him to stay back, revealed KKR management.
"All KKR Players and Support Staff have arrived in Bangalore, except Rovman Powell & Moeen Ali. Both Powell and Ali couldn’t come back due to medical reasons. Rovman is undergoing a procedure, while Moeen and his family are down with a viral infection. We wish them good health and a quick recovery," a media statement read.
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