Kevin Pietersen |
ealousy could be the reason for negative attitudes in England towards
the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL), England batting star Kevin
Pietersen has said.
The Twenty20 IPL was an instant hit when it
began in 2008 as a mix of glamour, entertainment and international stars
playing short-form cricket, but it has attracted little interest in
England.
"It (the IPL) is very much struggling to find
acceptance back home," the South Africa-born England batsman, who is
playing for Delhi Daredevils in the ongoing tournament, was quoted as
saying in the Indian media on Thursday.
"It saddens me because I
have had an amazing time at the IPL, and it's down to a lot of jealousy
I think which is sad. It saddens me all the negative publicity the IPL
gets in the (British) media, I don't know why."
His comments
came as the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, in its latest issue, blamed the
influence of T2O games for India's recent dismal run in Test cricket
which saw them lose eight successive matches in England and Australia.
"The
disintegration of India's feted batting line-up has coincided with the
rise of a Twenty20-based nationalism, the growth of private marketeers
and high-level conflicts of interest," wrote Wisden editor Lawrence
Booth.
"It is a perfect storm. And the global game sits unsteadily in the eye. India, your sport needs you."
Pietersen,
the only big England star taking part in this year's IPL, said
experience gained in the tournament will be useful when England tour
India for a Test and one-day series later this year.
"It will benefit the team (England), especially because we will be touring India later in the year," he said.
"Playing
another month in the subcontinent honing my skills, training with the
spinners and practicing, I consider myself so very fortunate."
England
fast bowler Stuart Broad was forced to miss this year's IPL due to
injury, while pace spearhead James Anderson and leading spinner Graeme
Swann went unsold at the auction in February.
England failed to
cope with spin on their recent Asia tour when they lost four of their
five Tests, three against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and one
in Sri Lanka.
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