Star England batsman Kevin Pietersen is set to become Indian Premier League's richest player with a whopping reserve prize of USD 1.3 million at the February 6 auctions,according to reports in London. The starting bid amount for Pietersen is the highest for any IPL cricketer and the former England captain is likely to beat the record price of USD 1.5 million paid last year by Chennai Super Kings to current India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. England's centrally contracted players will be available for only 21 days of the IPL second season starting on April 10 and will be paid on a pro-rata basis. That could still represent a minimum of USD 86,000 per match for Pietersen who could cram six appearances into three weeks,a report in the 'Daily Telegraph' said. Star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has also been valued at USD 900,000 at the auction when the IPL futures of 13 other contracted England players will be decided. Both Pietersen and Flintoff have been courted by almost all of the eight IPL franchises and competition for their signature will be fierce despite their limited availability in 2009. The Bangalore Royal Challengers,owned by liquor baron Vijay Mallya,met with Pietersen last year and remain the favourites to sign him while Flintoff has been linked with joining Sachin Tendulkar at the Mumbai Indians. The base prices for the remaining England players is not likely to be valued higher than USD 250,000. Dominic Cork and Sajid Mahmood were among other English cricketers to be added to the auction list sent to the franchise owners. Ed Joyce,the Sussex batsman,has also been listed as has Darren Gough,Rob Key and Essex's James Foster.
