Pietersen mulls playing for S. Africa

NEW DELHI — Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has said he is considering playing international cricket for his native South Africa after he was sacked from the England side two years ago. The flamboyant batsman, who was born in Pietermaritzburg but left for England more than a decade ago, would be eligible to play for South Africa in 2018. The 35-year-old has not played an international match since he was controversially dumped from the England side following its disastrous Ashes tour of Australia in 2013-14. Pietersen has since moulded himself as a Twenty20 specialist, regularly featuring in leagues of the shortest format around the world. “Yes, it is a thought in my head,” Pietersen was quoted as saying by Cricinfo website and other media about playing for South Africa. “If it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Obviously, playing international is something I have done for a very long time,” he said after turning out Saturday for the Rising Pune Supergiants team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). “Do I miss playing international cricket? Do I miss batting in international cricket? Yes, I do very much so you never know. “The eligibility for South Africa is still a year away. So we will have to wait and see but it is definitely still an option,” said Pietersen, who has scored 8,181 runs from 104 Tests at an average of 47.28. The prolific batsman, who left South Africa and later qualified to play for England via his English mother, has repeatedly expressed his desire to return to the England side. — Agencies