Kevin Pietersen to miss Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL finish
Thursday 14 May 2015 08:02, UK
Kevin Pietersen will not travel out to play for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League finale this weekend after picking up calf injury for Surrey.
The batsman, who has instead flown for a break in Dubai, was forced to watch from the dressing room as his county recorded a seven-wicket LV= County Championship Division Two victory against Leicestershire at the Kia Oval on Wednesday.
A day earlier Pietersen, 34, had compiled his highest ever first-class score, 355 unbeaten, to help propel his side to the win.
However, the whole county match had been overshadowed by new England and Wales Cricket Board director of cricket Andrew Strauss stating "a lack of trust" would prevent Pietersen's return to the international ranks ahead of an important Ashes summer.
A day after being sidelined by Strauss, the South African-born batsman joked on social media: "Morning all, after a pretty bad day yesterday I've given it a lot of thought overnight. I'm applying for the coaching job! #StraussLogic"
The announcement that he would not be considered by England had come as a huge shock to Pietersen after incoming ECB chairman Colin Graves suggested in March that he could play for his country again if he scored runs at county level.
Pietersen had been due to fly out to the IPL on May 15 to play for the Sunrisers in the lucrative Twenty20 competition's play-offs.
"Unfortunately Kevin Pietersen @kp24 will not be joining us due to a calf injury that he sustained yesterday," Sunrisers announced on their official Twitter account. "We wish him a speedy recovery."
Pietersen also thanked fans for their support in the wake of his England snub, as he wrote on Twitter: "Can I please thank all of you from all over the world for your wonderful support over the last few days...it means SOOOO much!"
