Pietersen won't hesitate to walk-off mid-match

Gros Islet, St. Lucia:

England batsman Kevin Pietersen said he won't hesitate to walk off the field mid-match during the World Twenty20 and fly home if his wife goes into labour with their first child.

Pietersen's wife, pop star Jessica Taylor, is due May 16 - the day of the World Twenty20 final in Barbados.

"As soon as she goes into labour, I'll be off. No matter where it is in the tournament, I'll be off - and it's been cleared with the management to do that. If I'm in the middle of a match, I'll obviously get off the field and then I'll be on the next plane that flies into London Heathrow," Pietersen was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday.

The 29-year-old Pietersen also rubbished critics, who said that his departure would spoil the team's campaign.

"I think it's pretty sad that if you have your first child people criticise you for wanting to be there, whatever walk of life," he said.

England start their campaign Monday against hosts West Indies in Guyana and will rely heavily upon Pietersen, who is also the highest-paid Indian Premier League (IPL) player.