KP and ECB set for collision by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	KP Pietersen
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2009

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DateLine: 25th July 2009

 

Kevin Pietersen is all set for a tussle with ECB bosses, who want to restrict his participation in the Twenty20 format.

 

Pietersen wants to keep playing the lucrative events across the globe but the ECB is determined to reduce his appearances due to the risk of injury.

 

Adding to the woes ia the warning by union chief Sean Morris that some big names could try to get round the problems by quitting their England contracts and turning freelance.

 

Both Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff returned from Indian Premier League in April nursing injuries and Hugh Morris, managing director of the England team, was then criticised for allowing the pair to appear in the IPL in South Africa.

 

Pietersen aggravated his Achilles tendon injury during the IPL and, after months of discomfort, finally underwent surgery Thursday and will miss the rest of the ongoing Ashes series while Flintoff flew home from the IPL for an operation on his right knee that is still causing him pain.

 

Now, Morris has made it clear he will take a tougher line in future with players who are under contract to the ECB and this would start with Pietrsen's proposed involvement in the Champions League event in India in October.

 

Pietersen's IPL team Bangalore have qualified for the Champions League in October and the right-hander wants to play.

 

Morris is also likely to be supported by captain Andrew Strauss, head coach Andy Flower and the England selectors.

 

On the other hand Sean Morris, chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association, fears trouble unless the international schedule is reduced.

 

"I can see issues with the ECB wanting to restrict the players' appearances in non-international Twenty20 cricket," Morris was quoted as saying in the Sun.

 

"I can also see the day when we have freelance cricketers, with players turning down England contracts. That's the way the market will go and that's very dangerous.

 

"Flintoff has already made a choice to concentrate on one-day cricket and other players will be making a similar choice. That doesn't bode well. We want the best players to appear in Test cricket.

 

"I believe the solution is for less international cricket and proper windows to be created for events like the IPL.

 

"This will allow the players to earn without cutting across their England commitments."