After limited-overs, England pacer Saqib Mahmood has also got a place in the England Test team. He wants to settle in the Test team this time. That’s why the 25-year-old pacer turned down an offer to become a replacement overseas player in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Where other cricketers sacrifice international matches for IPL, Saqib has set a different example.

Although he did not disclose which team he was offered to play for, Saqib said that his decision was to cement his place in Test cricket with the red ball. He is now focusing on the County Championship with Lancashire so that he can settle in the England Test team.

"I turned down an IPL offer just to be here playing for Lancashire and try to push my red-ball credentials," Mahmood said, speaking at a press day at Emirates Old Trafford.

The fast bowler claimed that he got the offer of IPL while playing his debut series in the West Indies tour. "I got an offer while we were out in the Caribbean and it was a decision I had to make.

"I spoke to a couple of the guys around me and felt as though it was in my best interests at the moment to focus on red-ball cricket. Hopefully that can highlight my ambition to play Test cricket and to give myself the best chance to do that by performing here for Lancashire,”

he added.

Saqib also described the whole scenario when he got the call and decided to reject it. "That was my choice," he further said. "It was funny because it came from a conversation I had with Stokesy over breakfast one morning. I got talking to him about why he didn't go to the IPL and he said he wanted to prioritise red-ball cricket and be a part of the squad moving forward.

"It was that same day that I got a call - a coincidence in timing, but for me the timing of that call was great because I had left that morning having had the chat with Stokesy, who would earn millions in the IPL but really wanted to push this team forward. I have that drive as well to try and be a part of that Test team and try to push that forward over the next few months.

"I've had success with England in a white-ball shirt as well but how much I enjoyed myself out in the Caribbean - I have never enjoyed myself that much ever on a cricket field. It was a pretty flat wicket at Barbados… but I just thought the whole experience, and I did take it all in, playing Test cricket - nothing beats it."