Mascarenhas signs for Jaipur in IPL

LONDON, England -- All-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas has become the first England player to be signed up to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL).

The big-hitting batsman and medium pace bowler has been snapped up by Jaipur following the competition's latest player auction. He will earn about $100,000 for his efforts.

Top English players had to date steered clear of the Twenty20 tournament because it clashes with the start of their season, but Mascarenhas has been given permission by his county side Hampshire to play in the inaugural tournament.

Hampshire's captain Shane Warne, the former Australian Test star, has already signed to captain and coach Jaipur.

It is another blow for Hampshire, who had hoped to recruit New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond as their overseas player for 2008.

But Bond's involvement in the rebel Indian Cricket League, a rival to the officially-sanctioned IPL, will likely mean he is banned from playing for Hampshire.

Mascarenhas, 30, will miss the first two months of the county season, but would be available, if selected, for England's Twenty20 international against New Zealand on June 13.

The massive sums on money on offer from the IPL have led to speculation that other England players would sign up, with Mascarenhas' county teammate Kevin Pietersen recently admitting that he had rejected an offer from organizers.

Many of the best players in the world will be taking part in the 44-day long competition which starts in early April, being signed up for mind-boggling figures by cricket standards.

India one-day skipper Mahendra Dhoni attracted the highest price at the first auction, bought for $1.5 million by Chennai, while Australia's Andrew Symonds went to Hyderabad for $1.35 million. E-mail to a friend