KKR all-rounder Moeen Ali reveals parents' escape from PoK during India-Pakistan conflict

English all-rounder Moeen Ali revealed his family members were “about an hour away” from one of the locations targeted by the Indian armed forces during their conflict with Pakistan . Spin-bowling all-rounder Moeen, who is of Pakistani heritage, added that his family members managed to catch a flight out on the same day as escalating tensions between India and Pakistan spiralled out of control.

“My parents were actually in Kashmir at the time… in Pakistan, only about an hour away from where the strikes happened probably. Maybe a bit farther. So it was a bit crazy and then they managed to get the only flights out actually on that day. I was glad they got out, but it was crazy,” Moeen said on the Beard Before Wicket podcast.

Moeen made six appearances for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2025 Indian Premier League , collecting as many wickets with his off spin before returning home after the 18th season was suspended for a week due to the Indo-Pak conflict.

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India had launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ – a military response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam last month that resulted in 26 people being a killed, a majority of them being tourists.

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The Indian armed forces carried out precision strikes in terror camps located in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir as well as in Pakistan, besides targeting several air bases belonging to the Pakistan Air Force as well as the country’s air defence and radar system.

Moeen is among a handful of cricketers not returning to India for the remaining matches of the season that got underway with KKR’s away game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Saturday, which ended in a washout that knocked defending champions Kolkata out of the playoffs race.

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The 37-year-old further described what felt like the “middle of a war” shortly before the league was put on hold and he flew out of the country along with several other overseas players.

“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’re in the middle. It felt like we’re 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 to make sure obviously your family’s fine. People are worried about you back home and just to make sure they’re at ease as well,” the all-rounder added.

Moeen heaps praise on Kolkata Knight Riders management

Moeen also praised the Knight Riders management for taking good care of him and the rest of the players. KKR is Moeen’s third franchise in the IPL, with the off-spinner having previously represented RCB and Chennai Super Kings.

“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,” he added.