‘It’s Not Harsh’: Moeen Ali Backs BCCI’s Decision To Ban Harry Brook From IPL For 2 Years

Last Updated:March 17, 2025, 19:31 IST

Harry Brook was signed for Rs 6.25 crore by Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025 mega auction, but he pulled out of the upcoming season on March 9 due to personal reasons.

BCCI has banned Harry Brook for 2 years for pulling out from IPL 2025. (Picture Credit: PTI)

Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has backed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decision to ban England batter Harry Brook for two years in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Brook, who pulled out of IPL 2025 due to personal reasons on March 9, was banned by the BCCI for two seasons last week according to new rules.

Moeen, who will play for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025, said that the punishment isn’t a harsh one because a lot of players pull out at the last moment, and that disrupts the team’s plans.

“It’s not harsh. I kind of agree with it, in a way, because a lot of people do that,” Moeen Ali said on the podcast “Beard Before Cricket.”

Brook, who also pulled out of IPL 2024 due to personal reasons, was signed for Rs 6.25 crore by the Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025 mega auction.

“A lot of people have done it in the past, and then they come back in, and they end up getting a better financial package or whatever it is. And he kind of messes a lot of things up as well at the same time,” said Moeen.

“I mean, it’s messed his team up, obviously, by 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, but if you do pull out, the rule is that you get a ban unless it’s for family reasons or… due to injury or something. If it’s injury or something, it’s different. But I think if you just pull out, then it’s… I kind of agree with the teams. You actually mess a lot of stuff up.”

“He’s a top player. They’ve probably picked the team around him, and then all of a sudden, you’re pulling out,” he added.

Premier England spinner Adil Rashid also echoed Moeen’s sentiments and said, “They actually put that rule in place before, and then this happened. So, you know when you’re going in; this is the rule.”

“So when you put your name in, you know if you pull out, this is going to happen. So you know the consequences of it. So I don’t think it’s harsh.”

“No, but if you pull out and you have, like you say, an injury or whatever, then I think that’s where something like the rules may differ or change in that way.

“Not just him (Harry Brook), but… But this has been going on for, I don’t know, a little while, I reckon. Mo (Moeen Ali) has been in the IPL a lot longer, but in the past five or ten years, a lot of players have been selected generally and have pulled out. So that’s why they’re trying to stop it that way.”

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