Warwickshire make moves to sign Moeen Ali and Saqib Mahmood

EXCLUSIVE - GEORGE DOBELL: All three players are out of contract at their respective counties at the end of the season, and ECB rules dictate that any club wanting to talk to a player must notify their current club first

Warwickshire have made approaches to talk to Moeen Ali, Saqib Mahmood and Ed Barnard with a view to signing them ahead of the 2023 season.

All three players are out of contract at their respective counties at the end of the season, and ECB rules dictate that any club wanting to talk to a player must notify their current club first.

The Cricketer understands that Worcestershire (where Moeen and Barnard currently play) and Lancashire (where Saqib plays) have been informed. 

All three players are understood to be of interest to multiple clubs and no firm contract offers have yet been made. But, after many years of rumours about a return to the club where he started his career, it is thought likely Moeen will return to Warwickshire at the end of this year. 

^{Saqib Mahmood is wanted by Warwickshire [Jan Kruger/Getty Images]}

As well as living close to the ground, he is captain of The Hundred side based at Edgbaston, Birmingham Phoenix, and his dad continues to run an academy from the club's indoor school. His nephew, Isaac Mohammed, is due to make his 2nd XI debut for the club this week, aged just 14.

Warwickshire also hope to retain two of their current players. Dom Sibley and Olly Stone are also both out of contract at the end of the season with Sibley having declined to sign a new contract at this stage.

It is also understood that Warwickshire have received an approach from another county to talk to him. That approach is not from Surrey, his former club.

In the case of Stone, Warwickshire are hoping to gauge his fitness before making a contract offer. There is understood to be some talk about a white-ball only contract, though that is not confirmed at this stage.