‘Quality of Cricket Is Outstanding’: Moeen Ali Chooses PSL Over IPL Following Faf du Plessis

Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has officially confirmed that he will play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026, choosing to skip the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Moeen’s decision comes after former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis also withdrew from the IPL and committed to the PSL.

Sharing the news on social media, Moeen wrote: “I’m really excited to join HBL PSL in its new era. The league is known for top-level T20 cricket, with strong competition and world-class talent in every team. Playing in Pakistan is always amazing. The quality of cricket is high, and the passion and energy from the crowd push you to give your best. I’m looking forward to being part of it and making great memories. Ready for another special experience, Insha’Allah!”

Moeen Ali has played for three IPL teams over eight seasons — Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders — giving valuable all-round performances. In 73 IPL matches, he scored 1,167 runs and took 41 wickets. He often helped the team with middle-order stability and important overs with the ball. In the 2025 season, he played six matches for KKR before being released ahead of the 2026 mini-auction. Outside the IPL, he has played 92 T20Is for England and previously played in the PSL with Multan Sultans, appearing in nine matches.

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Moeen Follows Faf

Faf du Plessis, another big name, made a similar decision earlier by ruling himself out of the IPL auction. His IPL career started in 2013 with Chennai Super Kings, where he quickly became an important player. After playing seven seasons with CSK — including a season at Rising Pune Supergiant during CSK’s suspension — du Plessis had his best IPL year in 2021, scoring 633 runs and narrowly missing the Orange Cap.

After leaving CSK, Royal Challengers Bangalore signed him as captain from 2022 to 2024. During this time, he performed well as a leader and batter, scoring 730 runs in the 2023 season. In 2025, he played for Delhi Capitals, scoring 202 runs before an injury ended his season early. Over 154 IPL matches, he has scored 4,773 runs at an average of 35.10 with a strike rate of 135.79.