Kevin Pietersen row should end soon: Ian Botham urges ECB

By CricketCountry Staff

 

London: Aug 8, 2012

 

Former England captain Sir Ian Botham has urged England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Kevin Pietersen to bury the hatchet ahead of the crucial deciding Test against South Africa.

 

He said, ''Those sort of things should be dealt with in private between the people involved, not in the open in the run-up to a huge Test match.”

 

The former England all-rounder further added that the entire saga reflects poorly on the national team and the game itself.

 

Pietersen, who threatened to quit Test cricket during a press conference after the conclusion of the second Test had refused to reveal the reasons for his decision. 

 

But he hinted that the “politics” of the dressing room has been irksome for the batsman of late.

 

Botham feels the maverick batsman should have refrained himself from making such statements public for it spoils the image of the game.

 

He wrote in his column for Daily Mirror, ''It reflects poorly on the team, poorly on the game and poorly on everyone involved. It must be sorted out like grown-ups.''

 

''They should not be airing their dirty linen in public.''

 

According to many, Pietersen’s desire to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) next season that clashes with England’s home series against New Zealand may be the possible reason for him contemplating the retirement move.

 

Chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association Angus Porter feels the ongoing trend of players opting to play T20 cricket is a dangerous trend.

 

He was quoted by The Telegraph as saying, ''I can't see any immediate prospect of a rapprochement. He’s (Pietersen) likely to play next week but it becomes an issue with the next contracts in September.

 

''The primacy of Test cricket is well-intended but the practicalities are that the trend does not support that.”