Discarded England batsman Kevin Pietersen has reunited with county side Surrey for the upcoming Natwest T20 Blast after withdrawing from the Caribbean Premier League, reported ESPNCricinfo.
The swashbuckling South Africa-born batsman was slated to appear for the CPL side St Lucia Stars for the tournament, which is scheduled to take place between August 1 and September 9.
Pietersen previously opted out of the 2016 edition of the Natwest T20 after admitting that he had stopped hoping for a comeback into the England setup after he was inexplicably axed in early 2014.
“I’m absolutely over the moon to be joining Surrey again. I’ve missed playing here at home and it’s going to be a special feeling walking out at The Kia Oval again,” Pietersen said after signing with the London-based county. “We’ve got some seriously talented guys in our team and I’m very confident we can achieve something really special this season”
“I’ve had some great times at this club and ground over the years; it’s a special place with top people, and I’m looking forward to once again being part of it,” the 36-year-old added. Pietersen appeared in the 2014 and 2015 editions of the CPL but gave last year’s tournament a miss too. In recent months, he was seen playing in South Africa’s T20 league, the Big Bash League and the Pakistan Super League.
He recently withdrew from the 2017 Indian Premier League, citing a cricket-heavy summer as the reason.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!