By CricketCountry Staff
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday confirmed that Kevin Pietersen has sent an apology for sending controversial text messages to some South Africa cricketers, which led to his axing from the squad for the third and final Test.
Published: Aug 15, 2012, 05:30 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 15, 2012, 05:30 PM (IST)
Kevin Pietersen was dramatically dropped from England’s squad for this week’s third and final Test at Lord’s © Getty Images
By CricketCountry Staff
London: Aug 15, 2012
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday confirmed that Kevin Pietersen has sent an apology for sending controversial text messages to some South Africa cricketers, which led to his axing from the squad for the third Test against South Africa at Lord’s.
In a statement released as a response to Pietersen’s apology, the cricket board said, “The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has received an apology from Kevin Pietersen and an admission that he did send ‘provocative’ text messages to members of the South African team.”
The statement added: “Kevin Pietersen has said in his apology: ‘I did send what you might call provocative texts to my close friends in the SA team. The texts were meant as banter between close friends. I need to rein myself in sometimes.’
‘I apologise to Straussy and the team for the inappropriate remarks at the press conference and for the texts. I truly didn’t mean to cause upset or tension particularly with important games at stake.’
The managing director of England cricket, Hugh Morris said, “We are in receipt of Kevin’s apology, but further discussions need to take place to establish whether it is possible to regain the trust and mutual respect required to ensure all parties are able to focus on playing cricket and to maintain the unity of purpose that has served us so well in recent years.”
“Critically, those discussions should take place behind closed doors, rather than in the media spotlight,” he was quoted as saying by Mail Onlilne.
According to reports, Kevin Pietersen has apologised to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for text messages sent to South African players during the drawn second Test at Headingley, it was reported on Tuesday.
Last weekend, Pietersen was dramatically dropped from England’s squad for this week’s third and final Test at Lord’s, despite scoring a superb 149 at Headingley, after failing to reveal the contents of those text messages.
Some of those texts are said to include derogatory comments about England captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower.
Pietersen’s inability to either say whether the messages were true, or indeed apologise for them if they were, led England to omit him from the third Test which starts on Thursday.
