Moeen Ali
Player Information
Moeen Ali Player Overview
Moeen Ali is an experienced England all-rounder who joins Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for DP World ILT20 Season 5 in 2026. Born in Birmingham on 18 June 1987, Moeen is a left-handed batter and right-arm off-break bowler whose career has included international cricket for England and major T20 competitions around the world.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders signed Moeen for USD 80,000 at the Season 5 player auction. He arrives with previous ILT20 experience for Sharjah Warriorz and Gulf Giants, giving ADKR an all-rounder who already understands the tournament as well as UAE franchise cricket.
Moeen Ali Playing Style
Moeen’s value in T20 cricket comes from the combination of left-handed batting and off-spin. His batting can be used in different positions, while his ability to accelerate against spin has made him a useful option when teams want to change the tempo of an innings.
With the ball, Moeen offers right-arm off-spin and has nearly 300 wickets across his senior T20 career. His role has varied considerably between teams, with some franchises using him primarily for batting and others giving his bowling a larger part in their plans.
Which Team Does Moeen Ali Play for in ILT20?
Moeen Ali plays for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20 Season 5. ADKR bought him for USD 80,000 at the 2026 player auction, where he was registered in the highest USD 80,000 base-price category.
His move to Abu Dhabi follows previous ILT20 spells with Sharjah Warriorz and Gulf Giants. Moeen therefore enters Season 5 as an established tournament player rather than an ILT20 newcomer.
See the complete Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Squad 2026 for the full Season 5 player list.
Moeen Ali England Career
Moeen made his ODI and T20I debuts for England in 2014 before making his Test debut later that year. He developed into one of England’s most recognisable all-format all-rounders, eventually playing 68 Tests, 138 ODIs and 92 T20 internationals.
His Test career produced 3,094 runs, including five centuries, alongside 204 wickets. In ODIs he scored 2,355 runs and took 111 wickets, while his T20I career ended with 1,229 runs and 51 wickets.
Moeen’s international career also included major team success. He was part of England’s 2019 ODI World Cup-winning squad and the team that won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2022. He announced his retirement from international cricket in September 2024.
Moeen Ali T20 Career
Franchise and domestic T20 cricket have formed a major part of Moeen’s career. By October 2026, he had played more than 460 senior T20 matches, scoring over 8,400 runs and taking more than 290 wickets.
His career has included teams in the IPL, PSL, Bangladesh Premier League, Caribbean Premier League, The Hundred and other franchise competitions. He has also recorded three T20 centuries, with a career-high score of 121 not out.
This volume of experience makes Moeen one of the most seasoned T20 players in the ADKR Season 5 squad.
Moeen Ali ILT20 Record
Moeen has played 17 ILT20 matches across his previous seasons with Sharjah Warriorz and Gulf Giants. He has scored 344 runs at an average of 20.24 and a strike rate of 117.81, with two half-centuries and a highest score of 79.
His bowling has been used less frequently in the competition. Across 20 overs, Moeen has taken three ILT20 wickets, with best figures of 1/8 and an economy rate of 8.25.
Those numbers show that his previous ILT20 contribution has been more significant with the bat than the ball, despite his long-standing international reputation as a genuine all-rounder.
Moeen Ali’s 2025-26 ILT20 Season
Moeen’s most productive ILT20 campaign came with Gulf Giants in 2025-26. He scored 251 runs from nine innings at an average of 27.89, including two half-centuries and a highest score of 79.
That 79 came against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, the franchise he now represents. His previous ILT20 record therefore includes a significant innings against ADKR before his move to the Knight Riders for Season 5.
The campaign provided evidence that Moeen could still make substantial batting contributions in the tournament after his retirement from international cricket.
Moeen Ali’s Franchise Experience
Moeen’s franchise career has taken him through several of the world’s leading T20 competitions. His teams have included Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, while he has also played in the PSL, CPL, The Hundred and other international franchise leagues.
His experience is not limited to simply appearing in those competitions. Moeen has played in title-winning environments, performed in knockout cricket and taken on leadership responsibilities during his T20 career.
For ADKR, that background adds another experienced voice to a squad containing both established international players and younger cricketers entering the ILT20.
Why Moeen Ali’s ADKR Move Is Different in Season 5
Moeen arrives in Abu Dhabi at a different stage of his career from his early ILT20 seasons. He is no longer balancing franchise commitments with England’s international schedule, having retired from international cricket in 2024. His recent career has instead been concentrated on T20 and short-format competitions.
That makes Season 5 an interesting new chapter. ADKR are not signing an ILT20 newcomer: they are adding a player with 17 previous tournament appearances, more than 460 senior T20 matches and extensive experience as both a left-handed batter and off-spinner. After scoring his ILT20-best 79 against the Knight Riders in 2025-26, Moeen now gets the opportunity to contribute those skills in ADKR colours.