Pilgrimage priority as Moeen Ali pulls out of PSL

England all-rounder is replaced by Australia’s Brad Hodge

England all-rounder Moeen Ali has opted out of participating in the second edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as he will instead join his family members on a pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

On Monday, Moeen was named as a replacement for West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite in the Quetta Gladiators squad.

However, the Quetta-based team was quickly informed of his change of plans, and Moeen has now been replaced by Australia’s Brad Hodge, who represented Peshawar Zalmi in the tournament’s inaugural season.



https://twitter.com/MoeenAli/status/823919833108643841

The Gladiators were also happy to announce their replacement signing.

Ecstatic to sign @bradhodge007 -- 2nd in list of most runs in T20 format. Top player & his experience would add great value #ShaanePakistan pic.twitter.com/2R6FMtLqDj

— Quetta Gladiators (@TeamQuetta) January 24, 2017

The all-rounder has been a regular member of the England squad across all three formats in the past year.

PSL’s second season gets underway in the United Arab Emirates on February 9, with the final scheduled to take place in Lahore on March 7.