Published: Apr 10, 2016, 09:48 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 10, 2016, 09:48 PM (IST)
The discarded England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who has been a runaway hit with the Twenty20 (T20) leagues around the world, has always maintained his desire to play international cricket again. But with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) ruling out his return time and again, his future as an international cricketer for England has remained bleak. But a recent development suggests otherwise.
The stylish batsman, who is representing the Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) in the ongoing season of Indian Premier League (IPL), has hinted at making an international comeback, not for England though. If the reports are anything to go by, ‘KP’ has suggested of a comeback via the country of his birth South Africa.
“Do I miss playing international cricket? Do I miss batting in international cricket? Yes, I do very much so you never know. The eligibility for South Africa is still a year away. So we will have to wait and see but it is definitely still an option,” Pietersen had told reporters on the eve of his first IPL game for RPS. “If it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Obviously, playing international is something I have done for a very long time,” he had further added.
Pietersen would become eligible for South Africa in the year 2018, four years after his England career ended after the 2013-14 Ashes when he was sacked by the ECB for “cricketing reasons”. He has played 104 Tests for his adopted country England and scored 8,181 runs at an average of 47.28. In the process, he has notched up 23 hundreds. Whether or not he makes a Proteas return is something only time will tell. For the time being, his fans can enjoy watching him play in the IPL.
