Kevin Pietersen: “I won’t be playing next season. I’m done.”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has announced that he won’t play in the 2018/19 edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) and will retire from all forms of cricket later this year.

Pietersen is currently representing the Melbourne Stars in the BBL, but his contract with the franchise will expire at the end of the season.

Speaking to the media after the Stars’ loss to the Melbourne Renegades, Pietersen, who injured his ankle during the game, confirmed that he will honour his upcoming commitments in Pakistan and South Africa before hanging up his boots.

“I won’t be playing next season,” he said. “I’m done.”

The 37-year-old confirmed that he only recently made the tough decision to walk away from the sport.

“I think everybody knows that you come to the end of your time and stuff so for me you get to that time in your career where you just think, ‘Do I want this?'” he said. “I want it desperately at the moment, but I don’t think I’ll want it in 10 months’ time.”

Despite confirming that he won’t play for the Stars next season, Pietersen admitted that he still wants to be involved with the franchise in some capacity.

“This franchise (has) been so good for me at the end of my career,” he said. “I’ve loved every single day I’ve been in Melbourne.

“I love Melbourne (and) I’ve actually really grown to love Australia and have a really good rapport with a lot of the Australian public.

“So to have some sort of involvement in the Stars going forward, because of how much I love this club, would be something of immense value to me.”

Pietersen, who commentated during the first three Ashes Tests, also revealed that he wants to continue pursuing his commentary career.

“Let’s see – I really enjoy my commentary,” he said.