Patel primed for IPL opportunity

Patel has taken 11 wickets in 11 one-day internationals

Samit Patel could become the first contracted England player to compete in the Indian Premier League after he was entered into February's player auction.

The Delhi Daredevils are keen on the 24-year-old Nottinghamshire player, who has an incremental central contract.

"I'm looking forward to playing alongside and against the best players in the world," said Patel, who is on an ECB increment contract over the summer.

If he takes part, Patel would miss the start of the English domestic season.

He would return in time for England's one-day internationals against the West Indies in late May.

Notts director of cricket Mick Newell told BBC Radio Nottingham that Patel could "go with our blessing as it's a great opportunity for him".

But his participation is still subject to contractual agreement being reached between Notts, the England and Wales Cricket Board [ECB] and relevant Indian parties.

606: DEBATE

Could Patel be the first of several England players to take part in the IPL?

David O, BBC Sport

Dimitri Mascarenhas became the first England player to be signed by the Indian Premier League when he was recruited by Jaipur in March 2008.

The Hampshire all-rounder, who like Patel has 11 ODIs to his name, played for Rajasthan Royals but had no contract with England and needed only permission from his county.

Patel is not in the Test squad, so is not required by his country for the two Tests at home to West Indies in the first half of May.

The first IPL season was staged between 18 April and 1 June 2008 and the England players were the only international stars missing.

However, negotiations involving the ECB, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Professional Cricketers' Association have freed up a 15-day window this year, from 10-25 April, for England players on full central contracts to take advantage of.

Newell said Notts had already taken steps to steps to replace Patel and, potentially, his Notts and England team-mates Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom and Graeme Swamm should they also be recruited by IPL franchises.

"We've signed Alistair Brown and Jason Brown because we've known this was coming," he said.

We want our best players playing but it's an opportunity for Samit that we have to embrace - it gives him a chance to enhance and hone his one-day skills

Notts director of cricket Mick Newell

"We've thought about our four-day team already and how that is going to line up in the absence of Samit and possibly other England players.

"Ideally we want our best players playing but it's an opportunity for Samit that we have to embrace, because it gives him a chance to enhance and hone his one-day skills.

Patel played a key role in England's one-day series win against South Africa in August 2008 and topped Nottinghamshire's County Championship batting averages as they just missed out on the title last season.

He was also part of the England side beaten in the $20m (12.4m) Stanford Super Series Twenty20 match and played in all five matches of the abandoned one-day series in India recently.