Mascarenhas: I wanted to keep striking it rich in the Indian Premier League

"I defy anyone to say they would turn down the chance to earn more than their annual salary for a week's work," says the Hampshire captain.

"How can they blame me for wanting to go?"

He is talking about the extra £100,000 he would have received if he had returned to play in the final stages of the Indian Premier League and his team, the Rajasthan Royals, had won the inaugural tournament.

Big hit: England could still overlook Mascarenhas, who has impressed in one-dayers

The English-owned franchise, captained by Shane Warne, are aiming to secure a £2million win bonus and Mascarenhas's share would have been a six-figure sum.

But Hampshire have refused to let him return to Jaipur. He could have been playing on Friday for Rajasthan in the first semi-final against Delhi.

Instead, he will be at the Rose Bowl leading his struggling team against Kent and waiting to hear whether his decision to become an IPL pioneer has cost him his place in the England one-day squad to face New Zealand.

It is an intriguing case and one that will be studied closely by other England players as they seek to cash in next year.

Some critics believe Hampshire deserve to be relegated for having allowed their captain to leave the team for three weeks - especially as he spent most of that time on the sidelines after struggling to secure a place in the Rajasthan line-up.

They say his absence was disrespectful both to his team and the county championship. It is an attitude that baffles Mascarenhas.

"The Hampshire players have been absolutely brilliant about it," he says. "They all supported my decision to go in the first place and said they would have done the same in my position. And the supporters have been great to me to my face, too, but I've seen in the local paper that a few of them are unhappy I wanted to go back."

Does that bother him?

"It does a bit, to be honest," he said. "They talk about loyalty but I've been good for this club and have given my all for Hampshire for 13 years. I didn't think it was too much to ask to go back for another week for that sort of money."

Yet, crucially, Hampshire's owner, Rod Bransgrove, did. Bransgrove is the most modern-thinking of county chairmen and not only agreed Mascarenhas could go to India after Warne, his old teammate, turned recruiting sergeant, but also made him county captain.

However, when Mascarenhas asked to return for a second stint, his boss put his foot down.

Mascarenhas said: "Of course it's a disappointment. To have been a part of the finals would have been a big thing. Discussions went on for a few days but at the end of the day Rod wasn't having it, and I've got to accept that. Rod understands where I'm coming from but he has to look after the best interests of Hampshire.

"It hasn't helped we're bottom of the championship and failed to qualify for the Friends Provident Trophy quarter-finals. But our relationship hasn't been affected by all this. We're fine."

Whether England were fine with Mascarenhas playing only once in India yet missing three Hampshire 50-over games will be revealed today when they name their squad for a Twenty20 and five one-day internationals against the Kiwis.

Mascarenhas, 30, who broke into the team only last summer, admits it has been an anxious wait.

"My future with England has been a bit of a worry but, when I spoke to (selector) Geoff Miller and (coach) Peter Moores about going to India, they were very positive. They made me no promises, of course, and just told me to perform. I really hope I'm still in the squad. I hear Freddie (Flintoff) isn't going to be fit so that could help me get in."

England would be wrong to discard a player who has impressed in his 10 internationals and nine Twenty20 games, particularly with his six-hitting.

For years, Warne advocated his selection, which is why he wanted him in Jaipur and has signed him for two more years.

Mascarenhas said: "I'm going for the whole IPL tournament next year and the year after. That's the agreement I have with Hampshire.

"The only thing that would stop me is if the IPL clashes with England but the itinerary for the West Indies seems to make it possible."

His opinion of the new world of IPL cricket has not changed.

"It was all I expected and a lot more. It was just like playing one-day international cricket. The crowds have remained big and enthusiastic, there have been no problems with payment and I've learned a lot.

"I know people like Ravi Bopara and Luke Wright turned down chances to go but that was because the offers came late. A lot of English players will be there next year."

There appears little the ECB and county chairmen, even ones like Bransgrove, can do about that.