Mascarenhas Signs for Ipl

Dimitri Mascarenhas has become the first England player to sign up for the forthcoming Indian Premier League tournament (IPL). Mascarenhas, who played in the recent one-day series in New Zealand, was recruited by Jaipur Rajasthan Royals at the Twenty20 tournament's latest player auction today.

The recruitment of the 30-year-old England all-rounder, who embellished his international standing by hitting four consecutive sixes in the first Twenty20 Test against New Zealand last month, is likely to fuel debate about the implications of the IPL for the English county game. Jaipur's first game is on April 19, meaning that Mascarenhas, who plies his trade with Hampshire, will be forced to miss the mid-April 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 up to captain and coach Jaipur. It is unlikely that Hampshire's overseas player for this year, New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond, will be permitted to play due to his involvement in the rebel Indian Cricket League.