Warne slams ECB for not allowing England players in IPL

NEW DELHI, April 20: Spin legend Shane Warne has slammed England and Wales Cricket Board for not allowing its centrally contracted players to turn out in the lucrative Indian Premier League.
Dimitri Mascarenhas is the only England player in the IPL. He is not an ECB-contracted player and has signed up for Rajasthan Royals captained by his former Hampshire skipper Warne.
Ridiculing ECB's policy, Warne said the presence of England players in the IPL would only benefit the game.
"Twenty20 is exciting and IPL is a great idea. Cricketers from diverse cultures come together and share the experience. This is great for cricket", he said.
"This has been going on in England for quite a long time, with cricketers from other countries playing in counties," Warne said after his side lost to Delhi Daredevils by nine wickets at the Ferozeshah Kotla.
Warne said any captain would have loved to have England stars like Kevin Pietersen in his IPL team.
"It is real shame that players like Pietersen or Andrew Flintoff are not in the IPL. You want them to play in such a high-profile tournament," he said.
Pietersen, Test captain Michael Vaughan and ODI skipper Paul Collingwood have vented their frustration at ECB's stance.
Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag said he would have loved to have players like Pietersen in his team.
"But it depends on ECB. We have to respect their policy," he said.