Yorkshire benefit as Bresnan and McGrath are overlooked by IPL

But the club are breathing a sigh of relief as the pair can now play a full part in their pre-season programme, the centrepiece of which is a two-week tour of Barbados in March.

Eoin Morgan and former Yorkshire batsman Michael Lumb were the only two England players to be snapped up for the third year of the tournament, with Graeme Swann, Robert Key, Monty Panesar, Jonathan Trott and Mark Ramprakash also deemed surplus to requirements.

Morgan, the 23-year-old Middlesex batsman, was purchased by Royal Challengers Bangalore for 134,000, while Lumb went to Rajasthan Royals for 30,000 in a deal conducted outside the auction proper.

Only 11 of the 66 overseas players up for grabs were bought by the eight IPL franchises, who surprisingly overlooked all 11 Pakistan cricketers on offer – including big-hitting all-rounder Shahid Afridi.

Umran Khan, Afridi's manager, last night blamed IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi and the Indian government for the failure of any Pakistan players to win IPL deals, arguing that problems with visas were to blame for the marked lack of interest.

West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard and New Zealand paceman Shane Bond were the most expensive players at auction, both being sold for 458,000.

West Indian Kemar Roach (439,000) and South African Wayne Parnell (372,000) were the only other players to be sold for over 150,000.

Commenting on Bresnan's and McGrath's omission, Yorkshire's director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon said: "I'm disappointed for the two lads on a personal level but, from a selfish point of view, it's obviously good news for Yorkshire.

"We can now concentrate on pre-season knowing that both players will be available to travel with us to Barbados, and it's important we have our squad together as much as possible.

"As things stand, it will only be Ajmal Shahzad, Jacques Rudolph and Ryan Harris who will not be travelling with us to Barbados because of commitments elsewhere, and I feel it's really important this year that we hit the ground running.

"With no fewer than four County Championship games in April it's vital that we have as many players as possible to work in pre-season, so it's worked out well for us in that respect."

Yorkshire stipulated Bresnan and McGrath would only be available for part of the IPL campaign to ensure they did not miss any Championship fixtures.

The tournament runs from March 12 to April 25, with Yorkshire's opening Championship match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston taking place from April 9.

Yorkshire's stance was entirely appropriate, although it ls likely the narrow time window made Bresnan and McGrath significantly less attractive to IPL investors.

Another consequence of the duo's omission is they will be available to play for Yorkshire should the county progress to the Twenty20 Champions League.

The two finalists in the Twenty20 Cup will go through to the money-spinning global event, with Somerset and Sussex winning through in 2009.