New Delhi: Defending champions
Chennai Super Kings will miss the services of Moeen Ali for their IPL-opener as
the star England all-rounder is yet to receive his India visa for competing in
the lucrative T20 tournament, beginning in Mumbai on Saturday.
CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan
confirmed the development
"It is almost certain
that Moeen Ali wil miss the first game. He has still not got the visa. We are
on it as well as BCCI. Hope it is sorted in a day or two," Viswanathan
said.
"It is disappointing that
he has not been able to join us. They follow set procedures for players with
Pakistan descent. That looks like the reason (for delay)."His grandfather
migrated to England from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir but Moeen is born in England
and is a frequent visitor to India.
CSK, four-time IPL champions,
will take on last edition's runner-up side Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening
match of the this year's IPL at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.
Viswanathan said even if he manages to reach India by Thursday, Ali will be
unavailable for the opener because of the quarantine protocol laid down by the
IPL organisers.
"There is three-day
mandatory quarantine which Moeen has to undergo before joining the IPL
bio-bubble. So he will be out of the first game even if he gets his visa today
or tomorrow."
Because of his fine all-round
show which helped the team lift its fourth IPL title, Moeen was retained by CSK
alongside inspirational captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja and
Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Moeen scored 357 runs from 15
innings for CSK in the IPL last year, while also taking six wickets from 15
games with his off-spin bowling.
Deepak to miss a good no of
matches
Besides Moeen, CSK will also miss their star pacer Deepak Chahar, who has been ruled out of the first half of the IPL due to a right quadriceps injury which he sustained during the third and final T20 match against the West Indies in Kolkata last month. Asked about Chahar's progress, Viswanathan said: "He will remain in the NCA until he gets fitness clearance fromthe BCCI." (PTI)
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