Delhi decision sparks an IPL battle over Kevin Pietersen

 
PA
10 January 2014

Kevin Pietersen is set to be one of the most coveted players in next month’s Indian Premier League auction after it emerged he is unlikely to be retained by Delhi Daredevils.

The batsman, whose England future looks in doubt after reports coach Andy Flower wanted to discard him, is a star in India and, if he does not rejoin Delhi, will be the subject of considerable interest in the auction for the T20 franchise competition on February 12.

The England and Wales Cricket Board are allowing centrally contracted players to take part in the IPL until mid-May, a longer period than in previous seasons. Unlike in recent summers, England do not play their first Test until June, with Sri Lanka the opposition at Lord’s starting on June 12.

It would seem strange if Pietersen’s involvement in the IPL persuaded England to cast him aside, as the IPL window was granted to players before the disastrous Ashes series. There has been talk of Flower ordering his

out-of-form stars to play a month of County Championship from early April, but that would hardly be ideal preparation when England’s first cricket of the summer is T20 and one-day games in May and early June.

Pietersen’s £1.25million, three-year deal with Delhi expired in 2013 and he is thought to have attracted interest from at least one other franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, England stars could be made available for the first round of the revamped domestic T20 competition to give the tournament a high-profile start. This summer, the repackaged NatWest T20 Blast will take place throughout the season, with the majority of

first-round group matches on Friday nights as counties try to give themselves the best opportunity to attract the post-work crowd.

Domestic cricket will be competing for interest with the football World Cup and a five-match Test series between England and India. Standard Sport understands the counties believe an ideal way to generate interest would be to have international players involved in the opening week.

That would mean, for example, Test skipper Alastair Cook playing for Essex and Pietersen for Surrey, but the counties would need the approval of the ECB, who hold these cricketers’ contracts, before that could happen.

England all-rounder Arran Brindle hit 68 to help the tourists recover from 32 for three to 201 all out on the opening day of the Women’s Ashes Test in Perth. Australia slumped to nine for two at the close.

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