IPL cuts Pietersen some slack as star batsman eyes England return
KEVIN Pietersen has been granted a release from his Indian Premier League contract, as he bids to earn an England recall by rejoining English county Surrey.
Axed by England in February last year, the 34-year-old batsman hopes to end his international exile by playing county cricket and has drastically whittled down his IPL commitments with the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“I’m hugely grateful for all the support and understanding I have received at the Sunrisers and the IPL,” Pietersen said on his website yesterday.
“My focus is on the upcom- ing season in England and I am absolutely determined to score as many runs as possible.”
The release agreement allows Pietersen to miss the entire league programme of the Sunrisers, but he will be recalled if they reach the IPL knockout phase, which runs from May 19-24.
“I’ve never made any secret of my desire to once again represent England and I’m going to do everything in my power to earn a recall to the international set-up,” Pietersen, England’s all-time leading runscorer in all formats, said.
“To once again put on that England shirt would be a privi- lege and an honour, but now I have to focus on performing domestically and give myself the best possible chance.”
Pietersen is reportedly close to agreeing to a return to Surrey, which had deregistered him. He has drawn encouragement from incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves’ comments that a return to county cricket would improve Pietersen’s chances of an England return.
But national selector James Whitaker said last week “Pietersen is not part of our plans,” while captain Alastair Cook described his chances of a comeback as unlikely. – AFP