Shane Warne says the absence of England's top cricketers from the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a "real shame" and has challenged ICC to find a permanent place for the Twenty20 event in the international calendar.

Following a weekend of razzmatazz and fireworks the IPL swung into action, and although Warne feels the event is destined to grow and grow he feels the absence of the likes of Andrew Flintoff is taking away from the competition.

Players who are centrally contracted to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have remained in the United Kingdom as they prepare for the Test series against New Zealand, which begins next month.

Dimitri Mascarenhas, the Hampshire all-rounder who is not a centrally-contracted player, is the only English cricketer signed up to play in the lucrative tournament and Warne would like to see others join up.

"It is a real shame that players like (Kevin) Pietersen or Andrew Flintoff are not in the IPL," Warne said. "The ICC will have to show some common sense. The league should not be restricted to a 90-day wonder," Warne told the Asian Age.

Explore Cricket

• Counties

• Live Scores