England cricket vice-captain Moeen Ali posts his support for Palestine on Instagram alongside Malcolm X quote about 'hating the oppressed'... before swiftly deleting it, hours after he said he feared being labelled an extremist

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England vice-captain Moeen Ali posted a Palestinian flag on Instagram next to an image of Malcolm X, the Muslim human-rights activist.

The image showed Malcolm X, who was assassinated in 1965, standing behind a sign that read: 'If you're not careful the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed & loving the people who are doing the oppressing.'

Ali later deleted the post, before reposting another – still including the quote but without the flag.

Back in 2014, during his first summer as a Test cricketer, Ali wore a wristband containing the words 'Save Gaza'. 

The ICC later banned the item, saying it contravened regulations which displayed 'messages that relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes during an international match' on equipment or clothing.

Moeen Ali shared and later deleted a photo including a Palestinian flag as he seemed to show support for the territory

Ali first shared the quote as part of an image of a mural, then with a photograph of Malcolm X

The Instagram posts came shortly after a Sky documentary in which Ali admitted he had feared growing a beard because he didn't want to be labelled an extremist.

In light of the situation in Gaza, Ali's friend and team-mate Chris Woakes said: 'Mo's fine. We realise what's going on there is terrible and horrific. It is a very complex and delicate situation.

'I'm thinking about those innocent people who have lost their lives, and those who are missing and how harrowing this must be for their family and friends.

'Sometimes we get wrapped up when there are more important things going on in the world. Mo's certainly got the backing of the group here. We're very tight-knit.'

Ali previously shared similar support for the territory in 2014 with wristbands that read 'Free Palestine' and 'Save Gaza'

The ECB granted Ali permission on the basis that the statements were humanitarian not political, but the ICC deemed the cricketer to be in contravention of their rules