Brit Asian Duo Picked in IPL Auction

ONLY two British Asian cricketers were picked up by franchises in the auction for the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the weekend.

Owais Shah and Dimitri Mascarenhas will play for the third successive season in the lucrative domestic competition which promises big hits, plenty of glamour and the best players in the world.

Mascarenhas was picked up by Kings XI Punjab for $100,000 (£64,345) while Shah will play for new franchise Kochi, who paid $200,000 (£128,700) for his services.

But there was no takers for Shah's Essex team-mate Ravi Bopara, who had played for Kings XI Punjab during the 2009 and 2010 editions of the IPL.

Owais Shah

Other British Asian players who were left on the shelf at the auction include England pair Ajmal Shahzad and Monty Panesar as well as Samit Patel, Sajid Mahmood and Usman Afzaal.

For Shah, his inclusion in the IPL is a little piece of good news for him following the events of recent months.

The formidable batsman continues to be ignored by the England selectors and last summer he was given the ultimate disservice by former county Middlesex.

The London-based club decided not to renew Shah's contract last August after he had played in 16 seasons for them.

But Shah found out about the snub only through the media, with the club failing to notify the 31-year-old or his agent that he was no longer required at Middlesex.

Dimitri Mascarenhas

Shah has since found another home, signing a deal with Essex which will see him form a formidable partnership in the Eagles middle-order alongside Bopara.

Mascarenhas meanwhile will be hoping to use his experience of playing under Australian leg-spin legend Shane Warne at Rajasthan Royals to full effect in the fourth IPL season.

The Hampshire captain was the only England player to feature in the first edition of the competition in 2008 and alongside Warne, helped the unfancied Royals romp to victory and lift the title.

The Kings XI Punjab franchise will look to Mascarenhas for inspiration and help them secure their first tournament victory.

By Zohaib Rashid