Former England All-rounder Moeen Ali has backed Harry Brook’s IPL Ban following his withdrawal from the IPL 2025 season.
Brook has withdrawn from the league for second time in a row after being picked by Delhi Capitals for INR 6.25 crore in the auction. Brook mentioned that he was coming off the ‘busiest period’ of cricket and just wanted to take a breather time, to prepare for a big international season for England.
Harry Brook who is considered as England’s white-ball captain, took a breath but the latter withdrawal has brought the new IPL rule into consideration.
Brook would be banned from participating in the IPL until 2027 unless it is due to an injury.
Meanwhile Moeen Ali agreed with the rule suggesting that the late decision messes up the respective team’s plans and they would have to rejig their combination and strategies to account for the absence, especially since he took the call knowing the repercussions.
“It’s not [harsh] though, I kinda agree with it,” said Moeen Ali. “A lot of people do that [withdrawing]. People have done it in the past, and then they come back in and end up getting a better financial package or whatever it is. It kinda messes up a lot of things as well at the same time.”
“It’s messed his team [Delhi Capitals] up, him pulling him out. Any team that loses Harry Brook is messed up a bit, and they’ve got to now rejig everything and stuff like that.”
“Forget him for a second, if you do pull out, the rule is you get a ban unless it’s a family reason or injury. If it’s injury, it’s different. But I think if you just pull out, then it’s… I kinda agree with it [the rules],” said Moeen Ali.
The Delhi Capitals has named Axar Patel as their captain for the IPL 2025 season. With Brook pulling out, Faf de Plessis has been named as the vice-captain for the upcoming season.
“It’s happened a few times before, England players have done it a few times before in the past,” Moeen said.
“With him, he’s played a lot of cricket; he’s probably just thinking a little bit of a rest, there’s a big summer coming up, a big 12 months coming up. “England do play a lot though,” former England all-rounder added.
He [Brook] plays all forms, he’s probably going to be captain of the white-ball side as well, he’s probably just giving himself a bit of a break. It’s been a tough winter, he’s probably just going to get his game in order a bit more. That’s all,” Moeen Ali concluded.
