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28 March 2024

Pietersen confirmed for Lord's bicentenary, Caribbean Premier League

In a file picture taken on December 5, 2010, England batsman Kevin Pietersen celebrates scoring a double century against Australia on the third day of the second Ashes Test match in Adelaide. (AFP)

Published
By AFP

Former England star Kevin Pietersen was on Friday confirmed for the Lord's bicentenary celebration match between the MCC and the Rest of the World at the famous London ground on July 5.

The announcement comes after he was drafted by the St Lucia Zouks to take part in this year's Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and the 33-year-old will turn out for the Rest of the World XI alongside captain Shane Warne and Sri Lanka spin star Muttiah Muralitharan.

Australian fast bowler Brett Lee will play for the MCC, who will be led by India legend Sachin Tendulkar and will also call upon Rahul Dravid and Paul Collingwood.

Pietersen said: "I was very pleased to be asked to be involved in this game and the chance to share the Lord's pitch with some of the best players in the world is one I was delighted to accept.

"Playing at Lord's is always very special and I'm looking forward to celebrating the 200th anniversary of what is a fantastic ground."

Pietersen, who scored 1,520 runs in 26 international matches at Lord's, was sensationally axed by England in the aftermath of their 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia.

But England's record run scorer will play county cricket for Surrey this season and has already agreed to captain the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League.

And on Thursday he was chosen by the St Lucia Zouks for this year's Caribbean Premier League at the draft in Kingston, Jamaica.

Pietersen will be joined in the T20 competition by the likes of Adam Voges of Australia and Imran Nazir of Pakistan.

"I'm delighted to have signed for St. Lucia Zouks and I'm excited to play in the CPL," said Pietersen, whose team will be coached by another ex-England batsman in Matthew Maynard and captained by Darren Sammy of the West Indies.

"The Caribbean is one of my favourite places to play because it's a very entertaining, relaxing, enjoyable environment and that's the kind of environment I think I perform best in."

In the inaugural CPL last year, played over July and August between six teams, Chris Gayle's Jamaica Tallawahs were crowned champions.