Published: Feb 06, 2014, 04:03 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 29, 2014, 01:26 AM (IST)
London: Feb 6, 2014
Former England captain Sir Ian Botham has said that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) must stop hiding behind “corporate waffle” and explain to the England fans and Kevin Pietersen the real decision to end the international career of the controversial batsman.
Botham expressed his exasperation, confusion and disgust at the fact that the ECB though that they could get rid of Pietersen, issue a statement full of corporate waffle, and hope everyone will forget about it, adding fans who have paid good money only to see England go down 5-0 in Ashes want detailed reasons behind the decision to sack Pietersen.
According to the Mirror, slamming the ECB bosses as “amateur comedians” and “buffoons”, Botham said that ECB cannot leave everyone to speculate why England have ditched one of their finest players, adding that ECB also owes Pietersen an explanation to outline why he has been sent into exile.
Stating that the ECB’s press release about building a new team philosophy and a new ethic was embarrassing, Botham also said that nobody is falling for ECB’s red herring about Pietersen being past his playing days at just 33, adding that the ECB needs to “grow some balls and brain cells” instead of treating the public as “mugs”.
Calling the ECB to turn their attention to the “bloated” backroom staff, Botham further said that ECB is answerable to the people who part with their hard-earned cash to watch the best players representing England, adding the fans do not want any “spin concocted by dark forces in the corridors, nor smoke and mirrors”.
Botham warned if the ECB continued to treat the public as “mugs”, England would be playing in front of empty seats, which never looks good on the box.
