Kevin Pietersen to Play for Melbourne Stars in Big Bash League
Kevin Pietersen has been given a 'No-Objection' by the England and Cricket Board, which had sacked him earlier in the year after the Ashes debacle in Australia.
England and Wales Cricket Board has allowed the controversial Kevin Pietersen to play in the Big Bash in Australia. Pietersen, who was axed from the national team after the Ashes debacle in Australia, will turn out for Melbourne Stars in the T20 tournament.
Pietersen' current relationship with the ECB has been at an all-time low. The maverick batsman has used his book -- KP: The Autobiography - to slam former England coach Andy Flower, skipper Alastair Cook and several senior bowlers for cultivating a bullying culture in the team. (Pietersen Commands Huge Respect: Morgan)
Pietersen was reportedly in talks with Ram Slam T20 organisers in his native South Africa after admitting that his English career was over.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Pietersen will play a match in Victorian Premier Cricket for Monash Tigerson December 13 as part of preparations for the Big Bash League, after getting a NOC from the ECB.
The BBL attracts some of the most exciting limited overs cricketers from around the world and the 34-year-old Pietersen's inclusion will make things more spicy among Aussie commentators, who never shy away from taking a jab at the English cricket set-up. (Pietersen's Ouster Loss to International Cricket: Watson)
Melbourne Stars CEO Clint Cooper was elated at signing Pietersen, a man whose talent, despite the many controversies and ugly chapters, has never been in doubt.
"This is brilliant for Victorian cricket. Having a world-class superstar playing on our doorstep is very exciting," Cooper was quoted as saying.
"There will be plenty of attention on this fixture now and we hope that Victorian, and more particularly City of Monash, fans get behind Kevin and turn up in droves."