Kevin Pietersen has lashed out at new England Cricket Director, Andrew Strauss, and ECB CEO Tom Harrison in a column for 'The Telegraph' on Wednesday, after his England snub
Axed England star Kevin Pietersen on Wednesday lashed out at ECB CEO Tom Harrison for 'virtually ending his England career' in a column for UK daily 'The Telegraph', and labeled him a 'hypocrite'.
Pietersen, who scored a mammoth 355 not out against Leicestershire in a Division Two County match, has slammed Harrison, new director Andrew Strauss and the ECB, claiming they manipulated him.
The distraught former England star said in his column that he now plans to ply his trade for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the later stages of IPL 8, after it was made clear to him that he 'no longer features in England's plans for the summer'.
Harrison had brought up the issue of 'breach of trust' between Pietersen and the ECB on Monday night in a meeting at a London hotel of which Strauss was also part of.
Pietersen said that despite him making it 'absolutely clear' to Harrison of his intentions to wield the willow for England again, his triple century and current form have been tossed aside with 'utter disregard' owing to 'personal petty conflicts'.
No recall for Pietersen despite triple century - reports
Pietersen has lambasted the CEO for giving him 'false hope'. Pietersen stated that he was very angry at Harrison for inviting him for the meeting in the midst of that crucial county game and lamented the fact of being ignored despite giving his all for making a comeback..
Pietersen said that he had gone into the meeting with Strauss expecting him to say that England's batting was doing fine at the moment, but in the event of injury to any of them, Pietersen could be recalled. However, this is not what happened.
Pietersen also highlighted the 'hypocrisy' of Harrison's actions by stating that ECB chief Colin Graves had clearly stated that runs in county cricket were the top-most priority for an Ashes comeback. He claimed that Graves had clearly stated that fact in as many as two national newspapers and other interviews. This contradicts what the CEO has said and done during the meeting, according to Pietersen.
Pietersen lambasts Strauss for 'advisory role' offer
His column stated that despite being deserving of an England comeback (and doing what Graves demanded), Strauss and Harrison have been 'united' in their decision to leave him out of their plans. Pietersen also lamented about not playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 8 so far and now plans to give his best shot for the franchise as he travels down to India for the latter half of the tournament.
He stated off with the fact that Strauss and Harrison started 'throwing around statistics' in the meeting on Monday and feels that it has been a body blow to the English public who have by and large lobbied for his comeback to the national team.
Pietersen has also lashed out at the 'audacity' of Strauss' offer of an advisory role in English cricket and has come down heavily on his former England team-mate of 'unifying' with Harrison and foiling his comeback bid.
He clearly stated the stark contrast in Harrisons' claims of Pietersen 'not being needed for English cricket at the moment' and also the very same man lauding him for possessing an 'excellent cricket brain' before the 'advisory role' offer being thrown at him.
Here is a tweet from Pietersen which jokes about him trying out for a coaching role in the England cricket set-up.
Pietersen also stated in his column that he is now setting sights on doing well in IPL 8 post his recall by his franchise. He said that England are in grave danger of losing heavily to Australia in the Ashes and felt that it was 'unfair' for the cricket loving English public who want to see a top-class England side in action against Australia.
"I have heard from two very good sources that results do not matter this summer anyway. The job description for the director of cricket job is focused on longer-term goals. But if Strauss has been told he does not have to win this summer then why should the players train and work hard? In essence, quite incredibly, they have all been given permission to lose the Ashes," says Pietersen in his Telegraph article.
Pietersen signed off by saying that only time will tell as to how good Strauss is in his new role for English cricket and stated that the 'mind set' of Harrison and Strauss will not work wonders for English cricket.
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