07 February,2009 02:56 PM IST | | AFP
England batsman Owais Shah was auctioned off for $275,000 at the Indian Premier League yesterday, but admitted he was still sold on building a Test career with England.
The 30-year-old, who will play for the Delhi Daredevils in this year's IPL, along with England teammate Paul Collingwood, was considered unlucky to have been overlooked for the ongoing first Test against the West Indies at Sabina Park here.
But despite his new riches, he insists that he is desperate to add to his two Tests, targetting a place in the Ashes later this year.
"We all want to play Test cricket because there is pride and honour playing for your country against another nation. There's no feeling to beat it," said the Middlesex man who has played 52 one-dayers and 10 Twenty20 games for England.
"The captain told me that it was a tough decision (to leave him out of the first Test), but that I was close and I have to keep knocking on the door.
"I'm only 30. I want to play for England in the near future and with the Ashes around the corner, I want to play Test cricket. I'm allowed a four-week period for the IPL, then I have to be back in England by the 7th or 8th May.
"Hopefully, I'll make the one-day squad."
Shah added that he was not concerned to see compatriot Ravi Bopara auctioned off for $4,50,000 to play for the Kings XI Punjab.
"Ravi's goal is to play Test cricket and if you can pick up some money along the way, then why not," he said.
"His value is a lot more than mine because he is an all-rounder. He's a good one-day player. He's played for England so good luck to him."
England stars Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen fetched the highest bids at the IPL auction with both men going for 1.55 million US dollars to play for the Chennai Super Kings and Bangalore Royal Challengers respectively.
The chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association Sean Morris rejected any suggestion that the England side may be harmed by other players being jealous of Pietersen and Flintoff.
"I can't see there being any jealousy," Morris told the BBC. "I think dressing rooms deal with the issue of money really well, probably better than most other workplaces. Ultimately what matters is what happens on the pitch."
Meanwhile, Bopara is looking forward to his time in the IPL as his family roots are Punjabi.
"It's very special to be signed by them. Playing for the region where my family are from means that little bit more," the 23-year-old Essex player told www.cricketheroes.co.uk.
Bopara will be joined in the squad by Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene, India's extravagant strokemaker Yuvraj Singh and Australian pace bowler Brett Lee, but admitted he hasn't seen too much of team co-owner, Bollywood actress Preity Zinta.
"A lot of Indian films are watched at my parents' home so I've seen her in a few movies," said Bopara.
"I used to watch her a lot more than I do now because Indian films can last about three hours and it's been difficult to find time as cricket has taken over my life.
"It's weird to watch someone you know from TV bidding for you to play cricket for her."
The 2009 IPL season will be held from April 10 to May 29.
