GRAHAM Napier is in negotiations to join the Indian Premier League in 2009, the Essex all-rounder has confirmed.

Speaking from Delhi, where the 28-year-old was picking up an award for the best batting strike-rate at the Twenty20 Champions League Awards, Napier said the opportunity to move to the multi-millioin pound IPL was too good to turn down.

The Colchester-born player has been hot property since he belted a world record 16 sixes in a brutal innings of 152 not out from just 58 balls against Sussex in June.

That breathtaking knock helped Napier to a final Twenty20 Cup strike rate of 195.2 runs per 100 balls and a total of 326 runs in this season's competiton, a haul that helped Essex reach the semi-finals.

“Having had a little taste of the way India is promoting Twenty20 cricket [at the Twenty20 Champions League Awards this week] it is clear there is potential for a great opportunity to be provided to myself and other players to show our skills off on a grand stage," he told grahamnapier.com “Essex has, and always will be, my first side but this is a chance that has arisen and will offer me a great opportunity to further my career. I’m still contracted to Essex and look forward to helping the Club win more silverware next year.” Napier is heading to Kowloon on November 5, where he will hope to provide plenty more fireworks as part of England's team at the Hong Kong Sixes tournament.

From there, the popular star will fly on to New Zealand, where he will contest the 2008/09 domestic season with the Wellington Firebirds.