Pakistan vs. Mecca

Moeen Ali has opted out of participating in the second season of the Pakistan

Super League and will instead join members of his family

on a pilgrimage to Mecca.

Moeen, a devout Muslim, first performed umrah in November 2009

and credited the "inspirational' experience for a flying start to his county season

with Worcestershire the following year.

"I think I came back nice and fresh after that," he said at the time.

"It makes a person strong and it was a chance to just get away from cricket."

He faces an even more intense workload in 2017

with England hosting the Champions Trophy in June, as well as multi-format

series against South Africa and West Indies ahead of the Ashes tour in October !!

what's the score

Millions at the Pilgrimage to Mecca 

www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/1079994.html

"I have to receive a proper report from my experts," Clarke said.

"But speaking as a non-expert, I was deeply impressed by the size of the investment, and the passion of everyone I've met from the chief minister downwards, the desire and determination to see international cricket return to Lahore was absolutely there.

It is a goal of the ICC that every Full Member plays international bilateral cricket in their own country.

But for us to do that, we need everyone to be safe and secure." .