CSK?s Moeen Ali to miss first match against KKR due to Visa Issues

CSK?s Moeen Ali to miss first match against KKR due to Visa Issues: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) retained player Moeen Ali is all set to miss the tournament opener between CSK and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26 owing to the delay in his visa papers.

The development was confirmed by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CEO Kasi Viswanathan.

Viswanathan said that Moeen Ali is struggling to get his visa to board a flight to India. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and CSK are putting in all their efforts to get the issue sorted as soon as possible, he added.

"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 told PTI.

"It is disappointing that he has not bee able to join us. They follow set procedures for players with Pakistan descent. That looks like the reason (for delay)."

It?s noteworthy that Moeen Ali?s grandfather migrated to the United Kingdom from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). The cricketer is born in England is a frequent traveller to India for cricket related reasons.

If Moeen Ali gets all-clear to travel to India, he will have to undergo three days mandatory quarantine before he will join the rest of the squad, which will eventually rule him out of CSK?s first match against KKR.

"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."

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Chennai retained the services of all-rounder Moeen Ali ahead of the Tata IPL 2022 mega auction by dishing out INR 8 Crores.

The defending champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is slated to lock horns against Shreyas Iyer-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the tournament opener on March 26th in the Wankhede Stadium.

Deepak Chahar also unavailable for CSK:

Moreover, to further dent CSK?s hopes, ace pacer Deepak Chahar is also likely to be ruled out of the first few matches of the Tata IPL 2022. CSK?s INR 14 Crores pick has sustained a right quadriceps injury and is currently recuperating in the NCA Bangaluru.

Kasi Vishwanathan said that Deepak Chahar will remain at the NCA until he gets a green signal from the Indian cricket board.

"He will remain in the NCA until he gets fitness clearance from the BCCI."

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