Kevin Pietersen will have to tread a fine line with what he says, warns ECB
Kevin Pietersen was player of the tournament at the last edition of ICC World Twenty20 tournament held in West Indies in 2010 © AFP
By CricketCountry Staff
London: Aug 25, 2012
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) top officials are dissatisfied with Kevin Pietersen and will warn him to choose his words carefully after he accepted a commentary job during the Twenty20 World Cup.
The England-discard was signed by the event’s official broadcasters ESPN-STAR Sports for a “presentation and analysis” stint.
“In addition, Pietersen will also play an important role in the publicity and promotion of ESS’s broadcast of ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka,” the channel said in a statement.
Pietersen was ignored for the England team despite being a T20 player of repute after he fell out of favour with the ECB for sending controversial text messages to South African players in which he criticised England captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower.
Pietersen was player of the tournament at the last edition of ICC World Twenty20 tournament held in West Indies in 2010.
“This places him as one of the most suitable persons to give insightful perspective on this iconic T20 tournament, a format in which he has excelled as a player, thus further enhancing coverage of the ICC World Twenty20 for passionate cricket fans,” ESS said.
Pietersen, who played for Delhi Daredevils earlier this year, said, “I am very excited about working with ESPN STAR Sports covering the ICC World Twenty20 watching England defend their title.”
ESS will soon be making further announcements on its presentation features and full line-up of commentators for the forthcoming ICC World Twenty20.
An ECB source conceded accepting the TV job was not the best way to go about it.
“There are provisions in his contract that prevent him making critical comments about England players and officials, so he is going to have to be very careful with what he says,” a source was quoted saying in Daily Express.
“He will have to tread a fine line with what he says but you would have to ask yourself whether this job potentially jeopardises any possible road back.”