PCA boss retracts 'Moeen Ali should consider being booed as a positive' statement

Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) boss Angus Porter has reportedly apologised after saying that England all-rounder Moeen Ali should view the abuse he faced at Edgbaston as a positive.

Ali was booed by India fans during the hosts' Twenty20 win in Birmingham on Sunday. And Porter initially said that one would rather be booed than ignored, but his comments were met with criticism.

In response, the PCA boss said that he made a mistake by suggesting racism does not matter, adding that he does condemn it unreservedly, The BBC reported.

Ali's father Munir has claimed that Sunday's events were a result of his son's Pakistani background and police treated the incident as non-crime hate-related after an official complaint from a spectator.

The police would need more evidence to pursue the issue, however, and Ali, who was out for a duck and took 1-31 with the ball, does not want to make a complaint.

In his original response to the incident, Porter had said that Ali's father had offered his view sincerely, adding that he hopes it doesn't stoke the fire because he was just standing up for his boy. Porter had also said that there is an element of taking it as a compliment. He said that one is more likely to boo someone when they think they are someone to be feared.

Porter backtracked on those comments and said that he tried to play down the situation because Ali does not want it to become a major issue. But, he added that in trying to play it down he succeeded in doing the reverse and is sorry.

Porter said that it is very important that he makes it clear that racist behaviour is condemned unequivocally and he is happy to say that.

In a statement released on the PCA website, Porter added that Ali has the full support of the PCA, as do all their members.