It appears likely Pietersen's contract will be held back until the ECB and the England management, as well as the player himself, are sure his return is a realistic possibility.
Kevin Pietersen looks set to miss out on a central contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) while talks over his future continue.
It appears likely Pietersen's contract will be held back until the ECB and the England management, as well as the player himself, are sure his return is a realistic possibility. It does not mean it is the end of the road for him but is a sign the ECB is not yet willing to commit to bringing him back when it announces its next deals.
Pietersen has held only one meeting so far with Andy Flower, the England head coach, and further talks will be needed before a decision is taken on whether he can tour India in November. The intervention of Alastair Cook, the new Test captain, will be crucial in deciding the next step but all parties accept there are deep-seated and complex issues to address.
The ECB board convened at Lord's yesterday (Thursday) for its September meeting during which central contracts are normally rubber-stamped after recommendations from the selectors. The contracts formally begin on October 1 but the ECB can award deals at any stage.
Pietersen has been contracted to the ECB since 2006 and is in the top bracket of the pay scale with a deal thought to be worth around £2,50,000 a year basic but rising significantly with win bonuses and appearance fees. The central contract binds a player to the ECB and he can play only in overseas tournaments such as the IPL with a release agreement from the board.
By not awarding Pietersen a central contract at this stage it buys time for further talks but puts in doubt his chances of touring India if England stick by their plan to name the squad next week, although a common sense alternative could be to delay its announcement until after the World T20.
James Anderson was added to the squad for the three-match T20 series against South Africa as cover for Steven Finn. Finn missed the final one-day international at Trent Bridge with a stiff back. The series starts at the Riverside tomorrow.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}