London, Slamming batsman Kevin Pietersen for his decision to pick and choose Tests for his country, former cricketer Shaun Udal has asked the batsman to forget the past and concentrate on his and England’s future to make the most of his career.
Pietersen hinted that he may announce his retirement from Test cricket after the third Test against South Africa, to be played at Lord’s, unless the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) compromises and allows him to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) sixth edition next year.
England is scheduled to tour New Zealand at the same time the IPL 6 will be held, and Pietersen has reportedly asked to be allowed to miss the first two Test matches as he wants a full stint in the IPL.
Pietersen’s decision has also had an effect on his position in the dressing room, with the player feeling left out and viewing his teammates with suspicion over a twitter parody account.
“Dressing rooms can be fragile eco-systems. Kevin speaks his mind and with no regrets. Some people don’t like that and it can backfire in a dressing room,” said Udal who played with Pietersen at Hampshire and for England.
“I still think there is a hangover from when he lost the captaincy. He has been clashing with the ECB ever since and this is another one,” he said.
“It would be such a shame if things ended with him not playing for England after the next Test, but I can see him going freelance and then it will be up to the ECB whether to pick him when he is available,” The Daily Mirror quoted him, as saying.
