MOEEN Ali has been given the green light by England to play for Worcestershire Rapids in Saturday’s Vitality Blast quarter-final with Gloucestershire at Blackfinch New Road (3pm).

The all-rounder has received official clearance from the ECB to face Rapids' local rivals as they bid to reach T20 finals day for the first time.

Moeen has not played in the opening three Tests of the series with India.

But he did all possible in the County Championship Division One win over Yorkshire at Scarborough to stake his claim for a recall.

The 31-year-old hit a controlled 219 and also picked up eight wickets in the match, including 6-49 in the second innings, to go with his eight wickets in the previous Championship encounter with Somerset.

Moeen will go into Saturday’s clash in prime form in the Blast after smashing 115 in the win over Birmingham Bears at Edgbaston which sealed top spot in the North Group.

The Rapids Blast captain for 2018 has featured in six games to date and is their leading six-hitter with 16.