Kent all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has been snapped up by the Kings Punjab XI to play in this year’s Indian Premier League.

The 36 year old former Pakistan international was picked up by the Indian franchise for $200,000 in Saturday morning’s auction despite suggestions in the preceeding days that he wouldn’t be bid for.

Mahmood will become the first player of Pakistan origin to feature in the tournament, however it will mean that he will now miss the first couple of months of Kent’s new season.

The 2012 IPL begins on April 4th with the final not taking place until May 27th, meaning Mahmood will be unavailable to Kent for the entire period that the Kings Punjab XI are in the tournament.

Commenting on the news that he had been snapped up for the IPL, Mahmood tweeted: “I would like to take this opp to thank the ECB and my Kent county club for being so accommodating and cooperative.”

Mahmood will be shortly heading off to Bangladesh as he joins up with fellow Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens as they play for the Dhaka Gladiators in the Bangladesh Premier League.

Picture supplied by Sarah Ansell