Hampshire captain Dimitri Mascarenhas does not believe his Indian Premier League involvement will harm his England future - but will stop short of advising others to follow his lead.
Mascarenhas, the only England-qualified cricketer to have played in the IPL so far, is hoping Hampshire sanction his return to the sub-continent to play for the Rajasthan Royals in the semi-finals and final.
Whether or not that transpires, the England limited-overs all-rounder and Rose Bowl captain has no major qualms about having damaged his international ambitions.
"Obviously there is a little bit of a risk involved," he said on a day when he was back to business for his county - who replied to 278 on day two of their LV Division One match against Surrey at the Rose Bowl with 204 for seven.
Having already spent two weeks in India this summer, Mascarenhas has no regrets but does concede there is uncertainty surrounding the new IPL phenomenon.
"I suppose I am a little bit concerned," he conceded.
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"But as long as I just keep performing here and doing as well as I can, then I hope they England will pick me again.
"I don't think that having played for the IPL will affect my England prospects.
"Speaking to (coach) Peter Moores and (national selector) Geoff Miller about it, they were fairly positive.
"Obviously they have given me no guarantees, but I feel fairly positive about it - because it is ICC sanctioned.
"Hampshire have allowed me to go, so in that respect there was no problem with it."
Whether Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove will continue to sanction Mascarenhas' trips east - he would miss another championship match should he go again at the end of this month - is a moot point.
Read more about Dimitri Mascarenhas's IPL experience in today's Daily Echo
The man himself is delighted with his involvement so far and is very keen to return, but would not seek to make up any other player's mind for them.
Surrey's Ally Brown, Essex's Ravi Bopara and Sussex's Luke Wright have already chosen not to accept IPL offers - the latter two to concentrate on England ambitions.
Mascarenhas has also spoken to his Hampshire and England team-mate Kevin Pietersen on the same subject.
But he added: "It's different for everybody.
"We have seen Ravi Bopara and Luke Wright say no to it. They are probably thinking that it might affect their England chances - that is fair enough.
"For me it was just an opportunity. I wanted to do it, so I took it. It was great fun, I had a great time, the cricket was really good as well.
"It was intense, like playing internationals."
In the longer term, Mascarenhas is hoping one day soon he will be playing in an English version of the IPL.
"For the last five years we have had Twenty20, and the crowds love it," he said.
"The players love it, and all the clubs love it as well because it generates a lot of money.
"If they can do something along those lines similar to the IPL it would be great for this country, because there is probably a small window for it June-July time.
"If they did that it would be brilliant, if they could get the best players in the world.
"At that time of year, this is the only place to play cricket."
.....and when you've finished in India and can fit it in with your England commitments any chance you could possibly spare the time to turn out for Hampshire some time this season?
You are supposed to the county captain, you know.
.....and when you've finished in India and can fit it in with your England commitments any chance you could possibly spare the time to turn out for Hampshire some time this season?
You are supposed to the county captain, you know.
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