Dimi - IPL will benefit me

All-rounder expects more England players to feature in IPL next year

Last updated: 18th April 2008

Dimitri Mascrenhas Hampshire

Mascarenhas: Heading to the IPL

In terms of the other guys, the IPL want all the top guys and I'm certain in the next one there will be a few more England players

Dimitri Mascarenhas
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Dimitri Mascarenhas believes playing in the Indian Premier League will only enhance his hopes of becoming an England regular.

The Hampshire captain heads out to India at the end of April to play alongside former county colleague Shane Warne for the Rajasthan Royals.

While the England and Wales Cricket Board have blocked centrally-contracted players signing up to participate the 30-year-old is free to play and is looking to make the most of the opportunity.

Mascarenhas believes some good displays with both bat and ball in the IPL can help him cement his place in England's one-day side.

Benefit

"Playing against the best players in the world on the biggest stage can only benefit me as a cricketer - it is going to be an absolutely fantastic experience," he said.

"If I get 50 off 25 balls against the likes of Brett Lee and Muttiah Muralitharan then I'm sure some of the selectors will take note - it won't go unnoticed.

"The same goes for my bowling - if I get a few big names out like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly or Andrew Symonds then of course it is going to put me on the map.

"I'm desperate to perform to the best of my ability and of course playing in England's one-day team is still one of my main career goals."

While Mascarenhas may be English cricket's pioneer in the Twenty20 tournament this year, he does not expect that to be the case in 2009.

The ECB have already suggested they will be more open in considering allowing England's stars to sign up in the future.

Fit in

Kevin Pietersen has been particularly vociferous over the issue, stating that an IPL contract is like "winning the lottery" for a cricketer.

"In terms of the other guys, the IPL want all the top guys and I'm certain in the next one there will be a few more England players," Masarenhas added.

"I think we have got to embrace it because it's not going to go away so we have to work out a way to fit it into our game."