Mascarenhas signs for Jaipur

Hampshire hit again by draw of Indian Twenty20

Last updated: 11th March 2008

Dimitri Mascarenhas

Mascarenhas: Committed to IPL

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Dimitri Mascarenhas has become the first England player to commit to the Indian Premier League.

The Hampshire all-rounder has signed for Jaipur after the IPL's latest player auction round.

Playing in the big-money Twenty20 event will mean Mascarenhas misses the start of the English domestic season.

Hampshire have been badly affected by the new Twenty20 tournaments in India with skipper Shane Warne having already signed to captain and coach Jaipur.

It is also unlikely their overseas player for 2008, New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond, will be permitted to play due to his involvement in the rebel Indian Cricket League.

Compensation

A compensation agreement with the county has been reached and, as Mascarenhas is not centrally contracted, the England and Wales Cricket Board are not involved.

The ECB, however, do not want their players joining IPL sides as it could impact significantly on the national team's fortunes.

The situation is unprecedented in English cricket history as never before has such a lucrative alternative to playing at home during the summer existed.

The IPL recently suggested no England players were likely to be involved this year but Mascarenhas, who featured in the recent one-day series in New Zealand, has no obligations to the ECB and may not be the first targeted.

Jaipur were the biggest spenders at the IPL's second auction, also signing Australia all-rounder Shane Watson (£62,500), South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel (£30,000) and Pakistan paceman Sohail Tanvir (£50,000).

Australians James Hopes (£150,000) and Luke Pomersbach (£25,000) were bought by Mohali along with New Zealand's Kyle Mills (£75,000).

Another Kiwi currently playing against England, Ross Taylor, joined Bangalore for £50,000.

The New Zealanders will not play the full tournament due to their tour of England early in the summer.

South Africa batsman Ashwell Prince cost Mumbai £87,500.