Paul Collingwood [ Images ] on Monday admitted that English players' non-availability for the whole IPL-IV played a big part in their snubbing by the team owners during the two-day auction in Bangalore.
Only seven players from England [ Images ] were bought by the Franchisees and Ashes hero Kevin Pietersen [ Images ] was sold at a lower price than what he got from his previous owner.
Pietersen was bought by Deccan Chargers [ Images ] for $650,000, which is $250,000 less than what he was given by Royal Challengers [ Images ] Bangalore in the last edition of the Indian Premier League [ Images ].
James Anderson [ Images ], Graeme Swann [ Images ], Chris Tremlett, Jonathan Trott, Tim Bresnan [ Images ] and Ian Bell [ Images ] were overlooked despite fantastic show in the Ashes series.
The timing of England's one tour-game and first Test against Sri Lanka [ Images ] clashes with the latter stages of the IPL, which will run from April 8 to May 22.
The first Test will begin from May 26 and England players are expected to play in at least one first-class fixture before that.
This scenario, Collingwood said went against the England players.
"That will have affected the bids," said Collingwood, who was bought for $250,000 by Rajasthan Royals [ Images ].
"It's down to their availability," he was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
RCB owner Vijay Mallya [ Images ] had on Sunday said that most of the British players were 'overpriced'.
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