Sunday, February 13, 2011

Pietersen dismisses ODI retirement talks

LONDON: Top England batsman Kevin Pietersen has dismissed reports that he will be retiring from one-day cricket after the Cricket World Cup in the sub-continent to prolong his Test and Twenty20 career.

"Just to set the record straight. I have no intention of retiring from ODI's after the World Cup!!" Pietersen wrote on his Twitter account before boarding the flight to Bangladesh for the World Cup.

Reports had Saturday claimed that the England batsman was to stop playing in the 50-over format and instead focus on Test, Twenty20 cricket and the Indian Premier League, giving him more time to spend with his family.

"Kevin would like to make it clear he will continue to play ODIs for England as long as he is selected," his agent Adam Wheatley was quoted as saying by Sunday Telegraph.

Like many of the England squad, Pietersen has of late spent months away from his family, including son Dylan who was born in May last, over the course of a long winter which has included an Ashes tour of Australia and now the World Cup.

The 30-year-old will extend his time abroad by playing in the IPL after the World Cup, having earned a $650,000 contract with the Deccan Chargers.

England open their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on February 22.

The IPL season four runs from April 8 to May 22, after which Pietersen will return to his new county Surrey for the English domestic season, which will already be in full swing by that stage.

TOI

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