Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has announced that he will skip the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season and play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2026. The 38-year-old made the decision soon after he was released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the upcoming mini-auction.
Last week, former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis had revealed that he will not be participating in the IPL 2026 auction and will instead play in the PSL. The 40-year-old last played for Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL 2025 season. He scored 202 runs in 9 matches at a disappointing average of 22.44 and a strike rate of 123.93.
After Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali chooses Pakistan’s PSL over IPL
Moeen Ali said that he is excited about joining Pakistan Super League. He said that playing in Pakistan has always been a special experience for him. Moeen said that he is looking forward to making new memories in the league and hopes that the upcoming season will be another memorable chapter.
Moeen Ali wrote, “I’m really excited to join the HBL PSL in the new era. The league has earned a reputation for top-class T20 cricket with high-quality competition and world-class talent in every team. It’s always incredible to play in Pakistan; the quality of the cricket is excellent and the passion and intensity of the crowd inspires you to perform at your best.”
“I’m looking forward to being a part of it and making some great memories along the way. Looking forward to another special experience Inshallah!” He added.
Moeen Ali represented RCB, CSK and KKR in IPL
Moeen Ali’s long IPL stint came to an end when Kolkata Knight Riders released him ahead of the mini-auction in Abu Dhabi. The all-rounder was a part of KKR’s squad in the 2025 season and played only six matches.
Moeen represented Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and KKR, scoring 1,167 runs and taking 41 wickets in 73 matches. He was also a part of CSK’s title-winning campaigns in 2021 and 2023, contributing as a middle-order batsman and off-spin option.
Moeen has extensive T20 experience, having played 92 T20 matches for England and previously played with Multan Sultans in the PSL. He decided to return to the PSL soon after the IPL 2026 auction registration deadline ended.
Faf du Plessis, Andre Russell retire from IPL
Faf du Plessis ended his IPL career by announcing his retirement on November 29, just a day before the registration deadline for the IPL 2026 auction. He was released by Delhi Capitals after an injury-plagued 2025 season.
Du Plessis started his IPL journey with Chennai Super Kings in 2013. He played seven seasons with CSK and won two titles in 2018 and 2021. After CSK let him go ahead of the 2022 auction, Royal Challengers Bangalore chose him as their captain.
He produced some of his best figures for RCB, including a 730-run campaign in 2023. The batsman scored 4,773 runs in 154 IPL matches at an average of 35.10 and a strike rate of 135.79.
Andre Russell also opted out of IPL last week. The former West Indies all-rounder will return in a new role as the power coach of Kolkata Knight Riders for the 2026 season.
Also read: Michael Slater stripped of Hall of Fame status after domestic violence allegations
