The ECB still have no plans to include Pietersen in any of England’s squads for the future

Newly appointed England Test captain Alastair Cook has revealed that the Kevin Pietersen saga must be resolved as quick as possible in order to put a stop to all the speculation about whether his international career is over or not.

Pietersen has been exiled from the England team since he was found guilty of sending derogatory text messages about former Test captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower to the South African player during the recent Test series.

During the second Test at Headingley, Pietersen also got into a heated dispute with a senior member of the squad after going on a foul-mouthed rage about debutant James Taylor.

However, it can be assured that not only are Pietersen’s team-mates tired of his attitude, but also the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) since Pietersen constantly pleads with them to cut down on the number of ODIs and to let him play a full season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

With Pietersen having been left out of England’s 15-man squad for the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20, he has signed on with the ESPN-Star Sports network to be a television pundit throughout the tournament.

Talking about the Pietersen situation, Cook said: “Over the next couple of weeks, it’s certainly an issue which we as the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) will have to get resolved. It is a situation which does need to get resolved. There is stuff which needs to be talked about behind closed doors. That will happen.”