London: Australia great Shane Warne has said the “ego” of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) forced Kevin Pietersen’s retirement from all limited overs internationals.
Pietersen wanted to give up One-day Internationals (ODIs) while still playing Twenty20 internationals.
However, the ECB said the South Africa-born shotmaker, who remains a Test match cricketer, could only play in both shortened formats or none at all.
As a result Pietersen, the man of the tournament when England won the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean two years ago, is set to miss the defence of their title in Sri Lanka this September.
He will also be absent from the upcoming one-day series against Australia and Warne, who captained Pietersen at county side Hampshire, said England had damaged themselves.
“Any team that hasn’t got Kevin Pietersen is significantly weaker,” Warne told the Independent. “He’s a match-winner so that’s a big loss.
“It staggers me and I’m very surprised that the ECB didn’t try and negotiate better, drop their egos and say, ok we understand this, we want to keep our best players playing all the time.”
“Who wouldn’t want Kevin Pietersen in your side? He’s a match-winner and he puts bums on seats because people love watching him play,” said Warne.
Without opener Pietersen, England saw his spot filled by Ian Bell and Alex Hales, who struck in ODI and Twenty20 wins respectively over the West Indies this month. (AFP)