DUBAI – Kevin Pietersen on Friday apologised to his fans for not traveling to Pakistan for the knockout games of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL), starting from March 20 in Lahore.
In a video message, Quetta Gladiator’s star batsman said family considerations are behind his decision not to travel to Pakistan, and requested the fans to respect his decision.
You will be missed @KP24
Great career!!
Thank you for everything. Wish you could stayed with us till PSL final but we respect your decision. pic.twitter.com/J84LYVNHgd— Quetta Gladiators (@TeamQuetta) March 17, 2018
“It’s with a very sorry heart that I have to leave Dubai and go back to London now. I wish I could travel to Pakistan, but unfortunately, it’s my family’s decision, and my family is important to me. I hope you can respect my decision and my family’s decision not to travel to Pakistan,” the British cricket said.
This PSL was also Pietersen’s last stint as a professional cricketer. One of the most explosive batsmen of his generation, Pietersen, popularly known as ‘KP’, bid farewell to his cricket career after appearing in his final game for Quetta Gladiators on Thursday night.
“BOOTS UP! Thank you!” the former England cricketer tweeted last night.
Boots up!
Feet up!
Family, animals, golf…!
H O M E! https://t.co/3h4c3RvTxN
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) March 17, 2018
Pietersen leaves the sport as England’s second highest run-scorer across all formats of the game combined. In 104 Tests for England, he scored 8,181 runs at an average of 47.28 with 23 centuries and 35 fifties.
In 136 ODIs, he hit 4,440 runs with nine centuries and 25 half-centuries. He also appeared in 37 T20Is, scoring 1,176 runs with seven half-centuries.