Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali believes the BCCI banning Harry Brook for two years for his last-minute withdrawal from the IPL was “not harsh”.
It is the second straight time Brook has pulled out of the highest franchise-based league after being purchased on the public sale.
“It’s not (harsh) though, I kinda agree with it,” Moeen stated on the Beard Before Cricket podcast, when requested whether or not a two-year ban could be harsh.
“A lot of people do that (withdrawing). People have done it in the past, and then they come back in and end up getting a better financial package or whatever it is. It kinda messes up a lot of things as well at the same time,” the all-rounder stated.
England batter Brook was dealing with a two-year ban from the IPL since pulling out of his contract with Delhi Capitals forward of the event starting March 22.
“It’s messed his team (Delhi Capitals) up, him pulling out. Any team that loses Harry Brook is messed up a bit, and they’ve got to now rejig everything and stuff like that.
“Forget him for a second, for those who do pull out, the rule is you get a ban, until it is a household motive or damage. If it is damage, it is completely different. But I believe for those who simply pull out, then it is… I kinda agree with it (the foundations),” Moeen, who will play for Kolkata Knight Riders this season, said.
The 26-year-old Brook had earlier withdrawn from the 2024 edition of IPL following the death of his grandmother.
Any foreign player who miss the IPL after getting picked at the auction faces two-year ban from the league unless he is injured.
According to the new rules introduced by the IPL, Brook is not eligible to play in the event, or be part of the auction, until the 2027 edition.
“Any participant who registers within the public sale and after getting picked, makes himself unavailable earlier than the beginning of the season, will get banned from taking part within the event and participant public sale for 2 seasons,” states the new rule.
Brook was bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 6.25 crore in the mega auction in November. In the previous auction too, he was secured by Delhi for Rs 4 crore.
IPL will begin from March 22 with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders meeting Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Eden Gardens.
Published – March 18, 2025 02:40 am IST
