Wearing an England shirt again would be a privilege: KP
Kevin Pietersen reaches agreement with Sunrisers allowing him to miss the IPL league fixtures and play for Surrey.
Published On 25 Mar 2015
Kevin Pietersen has signed for English county Surrey in an attempt to win back his place in the England team.
Surrey confirmed that Pietersen has signed a contract for this season, and will be available for the opening game of the county championship on April 19.
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I've never made any secret of my overwhelming desire to once again represent England
Pietersen has been released from the majority of his Indian Premier League contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad to ensure his Surrey stint.
Alec Stewart, the former England batsman who is Surrey’s director of cricket, said that ‘Pietersen with ambitions to play for England and a real determination to score big runs for Surrey will be a huge asset to us’.
Pietersen, who is England’s all-time top run-scorer in all formats, was ditched by England after last year’s Ashes whitewash in Australia.
Recall hope
But incoming England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chairman Colin Graves suggested earlier this month he could be recalled if he ‘scores a lot of runs’ for a county.
Pietersen said his agreement with Hyderabad will allow him to miss the IPL’s league fixtures but he could be recalled should the team reach the knockout stages of the competition.
The IPL starts on April 8, with the knockout stages of the competition commencing on May 19 and the final taking place on May 24.
“I’m hugely grateful for all the support and understanding I’ve received from everyone at the Sunrisers and the IPL,” Pietersen said in a statement.
“My focus is now very much on the upcoming season in England and I’m absolutely determined to score as many runs as possible. I’ve never made any secret of my overwhelming desire to once again represent England and I’m going to do everything in my power to earn a recall to the international set-up.
“To once again put on that England shirt would be a privilege and an honour but now I have to focus on performing domestically and give myself the best possible chance of meriting selection.”
Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies