Pietersen snubs rebel tournament

The England batsman, Kevin Pietersen, has revealed he turned down the lucrative opportunity to participate in the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

The tournament has yet to be sanctioned by any of the world's cricket boards, prompting India to form another tournament: the Indian Premier League which features the best domestic Twenty20 sides from around the world. Pietersen, though, has rejected them both for the time being.

"I was approached with an offer to play in India and it was a very lucrative one - but I kicked it straight into touch," Pietersen told the News of the World. "It would be ridiculous for me to put my England career in jeopardy after all the work I have put in.

"There may come a time when tournaments like this sit in with our schedule and if the authorities were happy for us to play we would have another look at it. But at the moment it's a no-go area."

Pietersen revealed that he has been keeping a close eye on events in Australia, and has even "turned into an Australian fan".

"The Aussies are playing Sri Lanka in a Test series at present and could do us a real favour by knocking the Sri Lankans' confidence before we play them," he said. "It would be great if their batsmen came into our three-Test series struggling for form.

"After Australia, Sri Lanka is the hardest place in the world to win a Test series and anything Ricky Ponting and co could do to help us out will be appreciated - until we play them again!"