You are in > manchester.com  > News > Pietersen pledges future to England after rejecting IPL

Cricket

Pietersen pledges future to England after rejecting IPL

29/02/2008

Kevin Pietersen has claimed a potential cash windfall from the Indian Premier League will not tempt him away from playing for England.

The middle-order star, who has been one of England's most prolific batsman in both Test and one-day cricket for the last three years, was linked with a move to the IPL - an annual Twenty20 tournament on the subcontinent.

If Pietersen was to join the IPL he would be playing alongside some of the world's most explosive players, including Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds, Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya and South Africa's Jacques Kallis.

But he has rejected the assertion that the IPL is the aim of all of the top cricketers, saying he is committed to doing his best as part of England's Test and one-day sides.

"There's no way in this world I'd turn my back on England," Pietersen insisted.

"I know there is interest and, yes, there have been offers but it's not something I'm particularly interested in."

He added: "Money's not really too important, it's not as if I need money right now. I'm really enjoying doing what I'm doing.

"I love playing for England, I love playing for the spectators.

"England have given me a fantastic opportunity to a fantastic life at the moment so I'm fully committed to playing for England, to winning games for England and to scoring thousands more runs for England."

The news comes just a week before the side's latest challenge - a Test series in New Zealand.

England will be looking to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat to their hosts in the one-day series earlier this month.