News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp
Home  » Sports » Pietersen declared himself doubtful for the IPL

Pietersen declared himself doubtful for the IPL

Source: PTI
March 08, 2009 22:23 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Shaken by the recent terror attack on Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore, former England captain Kevin Pietersen has hinted that he was considering snapping ties with the lucrative Indian Premier League starting next month.

Pietersen, who was bought by Vijay Mallya's Bangalore Royal Challengers team for a whopping USD 1.55 million, is so worried at becoming a high-profile target that he is reviewing his own security now.

"I will be consulting as many people as I can but if I don't think it is right, then I will not be going. After this final Test against the West Indies, I will be speaking to Bangalore, to the ECB, to my agent and to security advisors.

"Then I will be a lot clearer in my thoughts than I am now. Since the terror attacks in Mumbai we are all now more mindful of our own security arrangements," the all-rounder told 'News of the World'.

Six Lanka cricketers including skipper Mahela Jayawardene and spinner Ajantha Mendis were injured as 12 masked gunmen opened fire on their team-bus, which was on its way to Gaddafi Stadium for the third day's play of the second Test on Tuesday.

Pietersen hoped that everything would go right during the Twenty20 tournament in India, but reminded there were lots of aspects to be taken care of before he heads for the country.

"Hopefully, the security will come right for India, but if everybody pulls out of the IPL then it would be a disaster, a catastrophe and world cricket would really be on a down. India is the force behind most of world cricket but there are things we have to go through before we go," he said.

The 28-year-old cricketer also feels no country would like to visit the strife-torn neighbour of India after the first of its kind terror attack on international cricketers.

"There has never been an incident like that. Everyone said cricketers were safe but now they are not safe in the subcontinent, so it is very worrying. I am shocked, it is a tragedy and a catastrophe -- not just in sport but in the world. I don't think anyone would want to travel to Pakistan at the moment.

"I feel sorry for everybody in Pakistan but everybody thought sportsmen were safe, they thought cricketers were safe but obviously they are not," he said.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: PTI© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.

India In Australia 2024-2025