Pietersen ruled out of Champions Trophy
Star England batsman Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the ICC
Champions Trophy following a repeat MRI scan on his injured right knee
on Wednesday.
The scan has shown only some improvement in the bruising to the bone
that occurred in the build up to the Test Series against New Zealand in
February which saw him miss the final Test match.
The 32-year-old was originally expected to miss six to eight weeks
and had already been ruled out of the upcoming two-match home test
series with New Zealand.
However Pietersen will not have recovered sufficiently in time for
the One Day Series against New Zealand beginning May 31 and the ICC
Champions Trophy which follows from June 6 to June 23.
Pietersen will start a graduated rehabilitation program with a view
to resuming full training by the middle of June. England will earnestly
hope that he is fully fit by the time they host historic rivals
Australia for the Ashes series with the first Test beginning on July 10.
The Surrey right-hander first suffered pain in his knee during a
warm-up game in New Zealand before the drawn away test series in March.
The talented batsman was withdrawn from the Twenty20 competition in
India due to the injury which consists of bruising on the bone and
cartilage damage in the kneecap.
The South African born player only returned to the England fold in
October following a controversial spat with ex-England captain Andrew
Strauss.
He had been cast into international exile last August after sending
text messages to touring South African players criticising then captain
Strauss.
AFP |