Graeme Swann backs Kevin Pietersen’s decision to bid adieu to international one-day cricket – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KP-Pietersen-c1806’s decision to bid adieu to limited-overs international cricket, saying Pietersen, like every other player, has the right to make a decision about when to retire.
The 31-year-old Northampton-born off-spinner agreed with Kevin’s opinion that England has got a hectic international schedule and there comes a time when one feels the need to get out of the relentless schedule, which keeps players
away from their families for months.
"Whatever Kevin's made his decision for, whether it be financial matters or the family or whatever, I can understand where he's coming from,” said the prolific right-arm off-spinner while speaking to
The Cricket Paper on Wednesday, insisting that the players are also human beings who want to spend time with their families.
Kevin Pietersen, the 33-year-old South Africa-born England batsman, last month announced retirement from the one-day format of international cricket citing the relentless one-day schedule as the reason behind his untimely decision.
The hard-hitting top-order batsman however, remains available for Test selection.
In fact Pietersen wanted to quit One Day International cricket and not the T20 format of the game, especially with the World T20 Championship around the corner. But there is a clause in ECB contract which enforces players to either
remain available for both formats of limited-overs cricket or none.
Swann said that though he understands ECB’s point, the players should have the right to decide when to retire from international cricket, in whole or part.
"I can understand where Kev's coming from and I can understand where the ECB are coming from at the same time: 'We pay you well, we expect you play, it is a short career',” said Swann, who has so far played 44 Tests, 67 One Day Internationals
and 30 T20s for England.
“But people have to face facts that you are in control of your own destiny, so you decide: 'I've had enough, I'm going to retire from whatever form of the game,' then that's it," he added further.
Kevin Pietersen played 127 One Day Internationals and 36 T20 Internationals for England, and was their star performer during the 4-0 ODI series win over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in UAE earlier this year.
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