On Tuesday, Kevin Pietersen declared that he has agreed a release from his Indian Premier League (IPL) contract, as he bids to earn an England recall by rejoining English county Surrey.
Axed by England and Wales Cricket Board in February 2014, the 34-years old English batsman expects to end his international expulsion by playing county cricket and has extremely eroded down his Indian Premier League (IPL) responsibilities with the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Pietersen, England’s all-time leading run-scorer in all formats, said in a statement on his personal website that he is highly grateful for all the support and understanding he has received from everyone at the Sunrisers and the Indian Premier League (IPL). His focus is now very much on the forthcoming season in England and he is completely determined to score as many runs as possible.
The contract allows Kevin Pietersen to miss the Sunrisers’ entire league schedule, but he will be recalled if they reach the Indian Premier League (IPL) knockout stage, which runs from 19th May-24th May.
Pietersen, added he has never made any secret of his overwhelming wish to once again represent England and he is going to do everything in his strength to earn a recall to the international set-up.
He has drawn motivation from incoming England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves’s statements that a comeback to county cricket would improve his opportunities of an England return.
Last week James Whitaker, the national selector said that Pietersen was “not part of our plans”, while skipper Alastair Cook elaborated the opportunities of his former teammate making a return as “very unlikely”.
Pietersen was excluded after England’s 2013-14 Ashes series whitewash in Australia, with Paul Downton, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director, citing his “disengagement” with his teammates during the precious Test in Sydney.
He released an autobiography named “KP: The Autobiography” in which he alleged that a bullying culture had taken root in the England changing room.