Warne slams ECB over ongoing Pietersen row
Source: Agencies |
August 22, 2012, Wednesday
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AUSTRALIAN spin legend Shane Warne yesterday said it was a "tragedy" that his friend Kevin Pietersen was in international exile but added that both the player and English cricket chiefs were at fault.
Pietersen has been left out of England's World Twenty20 squad in Sri Lanka next month, continuing his isolation over "provocative" text messages, criticizing England captain Andrew Strauss, to players from his native South Africa. The 32-year-old batsman was the player of the tournament when England won the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean two years ago.
Pietersen was dropped from the England team that lost the third test against South Africa at Lord's by 51 runs on Monday, and was also left out of the forthcoming one-day and Twenty20 squads for matches against the Proteas, which is the new world No. 1 test team.
Warne said Pietersen, a long-time friend, would be "one of the first people to admit that he's acted in a way that's been a bit silly and stupid and I'm sure he'd like to take back a few of his actions."
But he defended the South African-born batsman, saying "both sides are at fault - the bottom line is Kevin Pietersen is not playing international cricket, which is a tragedy."
"There's a bit too much ego at the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board), there's no give or take or compromise," Warne said. "The (English) cricket team, I think they've let Kevin Pietersen down - it shouldn't have gotten to this stage," he added. "If he doesn't sign his England contract, if he doesn't play for England again, I just think that's a tragedy."
Warne said the "leadership of England, whether it be the selectors, ECB, coaching, captain, all that - they have to put their hands up and say 'we haven't handled this as best we can'. Kevin Pietersen has to put his hand up and say 'I've conducted myself in a pretty ordinary fashion, too'."
Warne said Strauss and Pietersen should have sorted out their differences privately, even if that involved them "punch(ing) the absolute whatever out of each other."
Meanwhile, England coach Andy Flower refused to say whether Pietersen still had a future. "There are still issues unresolved and we will be addressing those issues when we have time to do so," Flower said. "Let me just be clear, this is not just an issue between the captain and Kevin. There are deeper issues.
"Certainly the issues of trust and mutual respect need to be addressed, there are unresolved issues that have reared their heads in the last few weeks. And those issues have to be resolved before there is any way forward."
Pietersen has been left out of England's World Twenty20 squad in Sri Lanka next month, continuing his isolation over "provocative" text messages, criticizing England captain Andrew Strauss, to players from his native South Africa. The 32-year-old batsman was the player of the tournament when England won the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean two years ago.
Pietersen was dropped from the England team that lost the third test against South Africa at Lord's by 51 runs on Monday, and was also left out of the forthcoming one-day and Twenty20 squads for matches against the Proteas, which is the new world No. 1 test team.
Warne said Pietersen, a long-time friend, would be "one of the first people to admit that he's acted in a way that's been a bit silly and stupid and I'm sure he'd like to take back a few of his actions."
But he defended the South African-born batsman, saying "both sides are at fault - the bottom line is Kevin Pietersen is not playing international cricket, which is a tragedy."
"There's a bit too much ego at the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board), there's no give or take or compromise," Warne said. "The (English) cricket team, I think they've let Kevin Pietersen down - it shouldn't have gotten to this stage," he added. "If he doesn't sign his England contract, if he doesn't play for England again, I just think that's a tragedy."
Warne said the "leadership of England, whether it be the selectors, ECB, coaching, captain, all that - they have to put their hands up and say 'we haven't handled this as best we can'. Kevin Pietersen has to put his hand up and say 'I've conducted myself in a pretty ordinary fashion, too'."
Warne said Strauss and Pietersen should have sorted out their differences privately, even if that involved them "punch(ing) the absolute whatever out of each other."
Meanwhile, England coach Andy Flower refused to say whether Pietersen still had a future. "There are still issues unresolved and we will be addressing those issues when we have time to do so," Flower said. "Let me just be clear, this is not just an issue between the captain and Kevin. There are deeper issues.
"Certainly the issues of trust and mutual respect need to be addressed, there are unresolved issues that have reared their heads in the last few weeks. And those issues have to be resolved before there is any way forward."
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