England all-rounder Moeen Ali has decided to opt out of the second edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as he is planning to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca with his family.
Moeen was picked in the replacement draft by Quetta Gladiators earlier as he was set to replace the West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite. However, due to sudden turn of events, the franchise have decided to swoop in veteran Brad Hodge in his place.
Quetta Gladiators announced about the change on Tuesday and expressed Brad Hodge will be a valuable addition as he already possesses the experience of playing in PSL in the first season for Peshawar Zalmi.
“Moeen Ali is a top player and a great person,” a tweet from the franchise said. “We respect his decision to honour his family commitment first. Good Luck Moeen.”
The English spinner is currently with the national team in India.
He’ll now feature in the T20I series that begins on January 26 at Kanpur. Despite losing Moeen, Quetta have managed an impressive signing in Hodge, who has been in brilliant form in the Big Bash League for Adelaide Strikers. He has scored an impressive 286 runs in eight matches, averaging over 40 with a strike-rate in excess of 131.
PSL’s second edition will begin on February 9 and will have all the league matches in the UAE. The final is scheduled to be played at the iconic Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore on March 7.