England all-rounder Ravi Bopara has turned down a lucrative offer to play in the Indian Premier League.
Lucrative offer can't tempt Bopara away from Essex
England all-rounder Ravi Bopara has revealed that he has turned down a lucrative offer to play in the Indian Premier League.
Bopara, who is not centrally-contracted to the England and Wales Cricket Board, admits he was tempted by the opportunity to play for one of the eight IPL franchises.
However, he has instead opted to remain with Essex, where he has made a prolific start to the domestic season.
Bopara said: "Of course when figures like these are put in front of you it is tempting, but my goal is to play regularly for England so I am confident that if I continue to score runs and take wickets for Essex then I will hopefully play for England this summer and for many years to come.
Opportunities
"If I do this, and with the current talk of new competitions and one-off matches to sit alongside the IPL, then I am sure there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy the financial benefits in years to come."
Hampshire skipper Dimitri Mascarenhas is currently England's only representative in the big-money Twenty20 competition, although the likes of Kevin Pietersen and Ryan Sidebottom have said they are interested in taking part in the future.
Bopara has scored 341 runs in three LV County Championship innings and also tops the team's bowling averages, with six wickets at an average of 18.
That has raised hopes of furthering his international ambitions this summer after a winter which saw him make his Test debut in Sri Lanka before being discarded for the New Zealand leg of the tour after three Tests.
