Bopara backs England to host IPL

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The 23-year-old Essex all-rounder was one of five centrally-contracted players expecting to travel out to India to play three weeks in the star-studding tournament until Monday's revelation that security problems have forced the organisers to look elsewhere.

"I would welcome it being in England," he stressed. "I don't think there's anything wrong with that as long as the county schedule doesn't change and the West Indies tour remains unchanged then why not?"

He added: "I think it's a little bit disappointing it won't be played in India. What I was looking forward to was the crowds, the hype, the whole IPL thing was exciting by being in India but if we're playing it in England then I'll just get on with it."

Bopara, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff, Owais Shah and Paul Collingwood are all set to feature for three weeks prior to the start of the West Indies Test series, which begins at Lord's on May 7.

But he is convinced the time spent at the IPL either in England or South Africa, who are believed to be the favourites to land the event, will not be wasted when England begin their opening game of the Twenty20 World Cup against Holland.

"I don't think the conditions in England will affect the spectacle but it will be harder to get big scores if IPL is in England," conceded Bopara.

"It may affect the scores but the five English players involved will be used to the conditions so that might help us and it should also help us for the World Cup so I think it's a good thing if it happens.

"Twenty20 cricket is getting bigger, more people are getting interested including kids and the fans love it. It's important these days and the IPL is very important to me.

"I think it's an opportunity for me to improve as a Twenty20 player knowing this Twenty20 World Cup is going to come around every few years."