England's all-rounder Moeen Ali has expressed support for the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to impose a two-year ban on fellow English cricketer Harry Brook. This action follows Brook's late withdrawal from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season after being signed by the Delhi Capitals. Speaking on the "Beard Before Cricket" podcast, Moeen addressed the issue of players withdrawing from the IPL after being selected, stating that such actions can disrupt team dynamics and planning. He said, “A lot of people have done it in the past and then they come and get a better financial package. It kind of messes things up. It’s messed his team up, obviously.”
He added that while exceptions are understandable in cases of injury or family emergencies, withdrawing without such reasons justifies the enforcement of the ban. The English all-rounder has previously played for two different franchises; namely RCB and CSK. He has been picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the latest mega auction for INR 2 crore.
I apologize unreservedly: Harry Brook’s statement after withdrawal from IPL
Harry Brook announced his withdrawal from the tournament about ten days ago through a social media post. Brook's withdrawal was reportedly to prioritize his commitments to England's national team during a crucial transition phase. He said, “I have made the very difficult decision to pull out of the upcoming IPL. I apologize unreservedly to the Delhi Capitals and its supporters.” He also added by saying, “It is a really important time for England cricket and I want to fully commit to preparing for the upcoming series.”
Despite his apology to fans and the Delhi Capitals, the BCCI's regulations, established before the 2025 season, will mean that Brook will have to serve a two-year ban for pulling out of the tournament without a valid reason, aiming to prevent such disruptions in the future.
