Kevin Pietersen Return to England Team Unlikely, Says ODI Captain Eoin Morgan

There is bad news for Kevin Pietersen. England's ODI captain Eoin Morgan has quashed any talks of Pietersen's return to the national squad. Morgan insists KP has no place in his ODI team - at least for the "foreseeable future".

Ever since he was dumped from the England squad after the Ashes humiliation last year, Pietersen has attacked the management and Test captain Alastair Cook. Even former England team director Andy Flower was at the receiving end.

However, in recent weeks, Pietersen has hinted that he would love to play for England again and welcomed Morgan as ODI captain. The charismatic former England batsman said Morgan would probably pave the way for his return.

"I think he probably would, yeah," Pietersen told Ricky Ponting in an interview on Channel Ten. (Pietersen Expresses Frustration at Exile)

"I don't see why not, I'm hitting it okay and I get along pretty well with most of the guys in there, if not all of them."

But Morgan on Thursday moved to clarify the situation ahead of Friday's Tri-Series opener against Australia at the SCG.

"I'm very happy with the group of players that I have -- I think this is the best group of players we have to drive the England team forward over the next two months in particular," he said.

"Kevin's situation hasn't changed over the last year. It's been reiterated over months and days his position. It was reiterated before Christmas by the chairman of selectors and I am reiterating it again just to clear it up." (Admire Australia's Competitive Brand of Cricket: Pietersen)

When asked if the side would be stronger with Pietersen, Morgan labelled it a "terrible question".

"Kevin is not in the side, he won't be in the side for the foreseeable future so there's no point in answering that question," he added.

(With agency inputs)