Worcestershire Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes admits he is "disappointed" at Moeen Ali not being made available by England for Saturday's NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final with Surrey – but also understands national head coach Peter Moores' viewpoint.
The county have been given the green light by New Zealand Cricket to play Colin Munro at the Kia Oval and he warmed up in style with 150 off 100 balls against Northamptonshire today.
But England want third Test match-winner Moeen, who took 6-67 against India at the Ageas Bowl, and their other players to recharge the batteries before the next Test at Emirates Old Trafford starts on Thursday.
Rhodes said: "Colin will be back playing for us. New Zealand have been very kind and he's in good form, he got 150 off 100 balls today against Northamptonshire. That's excellent news.
"Personally I'm a little bit disappointed that Moeen will not be with us and mainly because to a club like Worcestershire, he is such a key player.
"Some of the other England players are with the big counties who have got several good players. We've got good players but we haven't got many absolute gems like Moeen.
"I would have loved for him to be helping us qualify. It means a lot to Worcestershire to try and get there.
"I'm pretty sure he would have had rest time even though it is only three hours cricket. But rules are rules and coaches are coaches and I thoroughly understand as well Peter Moores situation.
"He's got a right and he wants his team fresh and quite rightly raring to go for the next Test. Who can blame him for that? I rang up Pete but I had no joy.
"At the end of the day this guy is helping to win Tests for England and we also want the best for Moeen Ali.
"But a T20 quarter-final, my own view is they could have let him play but I understand Peter having a different view because he is very much at the sharp end of it coaching England."
Rhodes has praised the way the county have come to terms with Moeen's absence for long periods this season.
He said: "We have been used to Moeen not being around all season long and we are absolutely delighted that he is playing for England and doing well for England because that's a massive buzz for this club.
"It's a massive buzz for the lads in the dressing room, one of their colleagues is doing well in Test matches, and a massive buzz for Moeen.
"I'm also delighted that we've managed to win quite a lot of games without him so that is a tremendous news. It means other people must be doing quite well."
Regarding Moeen's six wicket haul, Rhodes said: "It will possibly just silence a few of those doubters.
"I know he is thrilled and long may that continue."
