GEORGE DOBELL: Moeen has reservations about the combination of the restrictions expected upon players and his busy winter schedule, while Rashid is understood to have expressed concerns about his shoulder and his potential workload
Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid are expected to decline the opportunity to return to the England Test squad.
The Cricketer understands that the pair were contacted by Rob Key, the managing director of England cricket, in recent days with a specific query about their availability for the Test tour of Pakistan.
Moeen has reservations about the combination of the restrictions expected upon players and his busy winter schedule, while Rashid is understood to have expressed concerns about his shoulder and his potential workload.
As a result, both are understood to have indicated they should not be considered for the tour.
There is, perhaps, a glimmer of hope in the case of Moeen. He has agreed to speak to Test head coach Brendon McCullum in the coming days. But it seems the New Zealander will have to be at his most persuasive if he is to change his mind.
McCullum is set to meet with Moeen in the coming days (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Moeen announced his retirement from Test cricket at the end of the 2021 summer.
While his enthusiasm for the Ben Stokes-McCullum era provoked a rethink a few months ago, it now seems a consideration of the practicalities has cemented his decision to retire.
Both players are part of the squad playing seven T20Is in Pakistan from next week and selected for the World Cup.
On either side of the tournament are six white-ball matches against hosts Australia.
England then return to Pakistan for three Tests in December in Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi, to round off a relentless 2022.
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