Pietersen hits back at deceitful' ECB snub

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Pietersen hits back at deceitful' ECB snub image

Kevin Pietersen feels "deeply misled" over the false hope he was offered of an international return and has accused the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) of being "incredibly deceitful" over a selection saga that threatens to rumble on for months. 

Newly appointed director of England cricket Andrew Strauss revealed on Tuesday that Pietersen is not being considered for a recall due to "a massive trust issue".

News of Pietersen's snub came on the day he finished 355 not out in a County Championship clash against Leicestershire while playing for Surrey, who he rejoined after ECB chairman Colin Graves had suggested the 34-year-old could play his way back into contention after being banished following the fallout from England's dismal Ashes whitewash in Australia. 

Pietersen was informed of the decision to continue to overlook him on Monday when he met with Strauss and ECB chief executive Tom Harrison. 

But in an emotional column with The Telegraph, Pietersen said: "I went into the meeting expecting Strauss to say that England's batting order is good at the moment but if I continued to score runs and if an injury occurred then I would be in contention to play. 

"I would naturally have to earn my recall, but at least I would be eligible. But no. Quite simply, I feel deeply misled. 

"Tom has tried to say that Colin Graves was misrepresented by the media when he said there was a way back for me. I'm afraid, as everyone can clearly see, this is the biggest load of rubbish.

"I am angry and hurt but right now there is nothing I can do about it. 

"I have done everything I can. Was I lied to by the chairman? Only he can answer that. 

"Tom Harrison and Andrew Strauss have said that all three of them are united in this decision, so I don't know what to think.

"What has happened since Colin told me if I scored county runs I would be available for selection? Nobody has called me. 

"I have given up my IPL contract, at great expense, to play in county cricket. Surrey did not have any funds free to pay me so I said I would play for nothing, just a donation to charity, and it is horrendous to feel I have been led down the garden path. They knew all along this was a dead end for me.

"I just find it incredibly deceitful what has happened to me and am frankly finding difficult to understand right now. I have done everything I have been asked. I keep asking myself, what more could I do?"

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