Vitality Blast 2022 | Moeen Ali, DJ Bravo and Colin Munro to miss season opener for Worcestershire

Worcestershire Rapids will have to go up against the Yorkshire Vikings for their first game in the T20 Vitality Blast without the services of their skipper Moeen Ali and overseas stars Dwayne Bravo and Colin Munro. Munro might make his debut against the Notts Outlaws on Friday (May 27), while Ali and Bravo will have to wait until next month.

After playing for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, Moeen and Bravo have been given extra time to recover and will not be available until June. As a result, the pair will miss the first three games of the group stage, with their comeback set for Chester-le-Street versus Durham.

Meanwhile, due to passport and visa complications in New Zealand, Munro's return to New Road after 2014 and 2015 has been delayed. He'll be in the UK later this week with the hopes of playing in Friday's match against the Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge (May 27).

Head coach Alex Gidman said, "Colin Munro is arriving on Thursday. He has had some passport and visa issues back in New Zealand, which were out of our control. The documents only arrived yesterday (Monday), so he won't be able to get over in time for the first game,"

"He wants to play on Friday at Trent Bridge. We've just got to make sure that physically he is okay, and obviously, flights are on time and things like that. But, all things being equal, he will be available for Friday. Dwayne Bravo just needs a short rest after the IPL, as he is carrying a little bit of soreness, so he will be available from June 1. Moeen, likewise, is having a quick breather after the IPL and should be available from June 1, too." he added.

In Ali's absence, vice-captain Ben Cox, who led the T20 side nine times last season, will lead the Rapids in their initial games.