MOEEN Ali will be Worcestershire Rapids' official captain for the 2018 Vitality Blast campaign.

The 31-year-old will lead the side in the short format of the game when his England commitments allow.

When Moeen is unavailable, Brett D’Oliveira will take over as Blast captain — a role he is occupying for a trio of County Championship matches with regular skipper Joe Leach out injured for the rest of the season.

Birmingham-born Moeen, 31, can call upon a vast amount of international and county experience to aid him in his first official captaincy role with Worcestershire.

During the winter he skippered England in a two-day game against an Australian XI in Perth.

He previously led Worcestershire at first-team level for two County Championship and two 40-over games in May 2011 and before that was England under 19 captain at the 2005-2006 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

County head coach Kevin Sharp said: “We had earmarked Mo to be the official T20 captain and he is delighted to have the opportunity to lead the Rapids and is relishing the fresh challenge that it will present to him.

“Although he has not a great deal of actual captaincy experience, he has a vast amount of knowledge to call upon and has played with and against some fine captains during the past five years at international level.

“We have a powerful-looking side in Blast cricket and Mo would love nothing better than to lead the County to a first finals day appearance.

“He is highly respected in the dressing room and there are players in there with vast experience who he can call upon and I’m sure they will only be too willing to give their help and advice if required.

“When Moeen is not available, Brett will take charge of the side.”

Rapids launch their Blast campaign on Thursday away to Lancashire Lightning at Emirates Old Trafford (6.30pm).

They are then at home to Birmingham Bears the following evening (5.30pm) in a game which is already a general admission sell-out.

Meanwhile, Moeen is in the England squad for the Royal London ODI Series against India.

It gets under way at Trent Bridge on July 12.