Brown rejects approach from IPL

Ali Brown has rejected a chance to play in the Indian Premier League

Surrey batsman Ali Brown has turned down an opportunity to play in the Indian Premier League.

The 38-year-old former England batsman revealed Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh approached him about a deal.

Brown told BBC London 94.9: "I had seen the auctions from afar so to get that approach was a surprise.

"I gave it some thought but have signed a one-year contract with Surrey and want to stay there. If things change it could be different next year."

Brown added: "He [Harbhajan] suggested I should think about it - it was going to be a very good contract and at this stage of my career it bore thinking about.

"I had a very interesting weekend mulling it over but at the end of the day, having had 20 years here, it would have been very difficult to leave like that.

"At best I would have ended up retiring at the end of the year. I still think there is two or three more years left in me and I would burn my bridges if I signed that now.

"I'm keen to stay here and regain my place and end on a high as opposed to last year which was not my best."