KP blasts World Cup schedule as 'ridiculous'

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has blasted the Cricket World Cup schedule, saying that the six-week fixture is too long and playing matches with six-day intervals is "ridiculous".

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has blasted the Cricket World Cup schedule, saying that the six-week fixture is too long and playing matches with six-day intervals is "ridiculous".

HT Image

"It's far too long. How can the England team play once and then in six days' time play again, and then in six days' time play again?" Pietersen asked.

"It's ridiculous but there's nothing we can do about the schedules," he added.

The outspoken cricketer also slammed England's hectic schedule leading up to the World Cup, starting on February 19 in the sub-continent.

England fly out for the showpiece tournament just three days after arriving back from the current tour of Australia, which began back in October last year.

"Our schedule is ridiculous going into this World Cup. It has been for England teams for a very long time and that's probably why England have not done well in World Cups," Pietersen told. "I wouldn't say we're going to be knackered because it's going to be the World Cup and we all want to win this World Cup. I know what I'll be doing (in the three-day break) - lying on my couch."

Pietersen, however, would not skip the Indian Premier League which begins immediately after World Cup. Should England reach the April 2 final in Mumbai, the players would have been away from home for all but three days in five and a half months. "I don't know about second thoughts about IPL. When you are in a good thing, you know it's a good thing, I was always going to be putting my name in the hat for it," said Pietersen, who was bought for $650,000 by Deccan Chargers. His price dropped this year after he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for $ 1.55 million two years ago.

KP rues lost chance
Pietersen is also disappointed at missing out the chance to play at the iconic Eden Gardens, but feels that changing the venue could work to England's favour as they would be playing before fewer spectators shouting against them.

"It's disappointing, I've never played at Eden Gardens. I never played against the Knight Riders last year in the IPL away. It's one of those venues that you really want to play at during your career, especially against India," said Pietersen.