Moeen Ali's Availability in Jeopardy as CSK announces Players for CSA T20 League

Moeen Ali / Source: Twitter (CSK)

The Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited (CSKCL), which owns the Johannesburg-based team in the Cricket South Africa T20 League, on Sunday announced the draft signing of five players including Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali for the inaugural season.  

Apart from the forenamed duo, they have also roped in Maheesh Theekshana, Romario Shepherd, and Gerald Coetzee ahead of the auction. 

While the other four players have agreed to feature in the entire tournament for the CSK-owned franchise, the availability of the England all-rounder Moeen Ali is still in jeopardy.  

For the unversed, the inaugural edition of the International League T20 (ILT20) is all set to clash with the Cricket South Africa's T20 league, set to take place in the first half of 2023. 

The spin bowling all-rounder from England was named in the Sharjah Warriors squad for the inaugural International League T20 (ILT20). Later, he was also roped in as one of the five draft signings announced by Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited (CSKCL) on Sunday. 

With the two T20 leagues set to take place simultaneously in early 2023, it is next to impossible for Moeen Ali to represent both franchises at the same time. 

As per reports of Cricbuzz, the 35-year-old has agreed to feature in the Emirates Cricket Board organized league, meaning he will make himself unavailable for the CSA T20 league. In such a case, CSKCL will have to look for a replacement.  

Notably, Cricket South Africa (CSA) is in contact with ILT20 organizers on the contract tussle regarding Moeen Ali and both the boards might come up with a solution in the next couple of weeks. 

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