Incoming ECB Chairman Colin Graves has refused to rule out a return for Kevin Pietersen in England side and has made it clear that the only way back for KP is to play county cricket for somebody.
Graves said:
“Forget personalities. Selectors pick the best players in form, taking wickets and scoring runs. That is their job.”
Pietersen, who was sacked in 2014 and was later released by his county Surrey, said that he was ‘pleasantly surprised’ by Graves’s comments and also expressed that he’ll do his best to play for England again.
During an interview with Sky Sports, Pietersen was quoted saying:
“Do I want to play for England again? Yes, of course I do. My time with England was cut short and I have always said I want to play again.
“But I need to speak to Colin, speak to the people who have helped me make decisions in the past and then I will see what I can do.
“I’m sure that if it is genuine, which I’m sure it is seeing as it’s pretty public, then – goodness – I’d love to be given that opportunity again. This is not about money. This is about me playing cricket for England, doing something I love.”
When KP was sacked, National Selector James Whitaker said at that time that there was “no way Kevin Pietersen would get back into the England team” , but Graves, who will replace Giles Clarke as the new ECB chairman for a five-year term in May, has said that though he would not be involved in any final decision regarding Pietersen, but if he scores “a lot of runs” for a county side, he won’t be ignored.
