Pollock regrets losing Pietersen

Shaun Pollock, the World XI captain, has said that he hopes young cricketers do not leave South Africa to play for other countries like Kevin Pietersen, the English middle-order batsman, did.

Pollock and Pietersen, both, played for KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. "It's a bit worrying as we don't want to lose our talent, but it's an individual's choice," Pollock was quoted as saying by BBC Sport. "When Kevin was with us he used to bat down the order and bowl some quite good off-spin. We tried to keep him and set up a meeting with Ali Bacher [then head of the United Cricket Board of South Africa] to try to give him a bit of security."

Pietersen did not have a permanent place in the KwaZulu-Natal team and he left for England after being disillusioned by the racial quota system that influenced selection in South Africa. He played for Nottinghamshire and then Hampshire and in the process qualified to represent England in the national side.

"He [Pietersen] was looking for a guarantee about his future but they [South African board] couldn't give him one," added Pollock. "If we knew how good he was going to be we would have done everything to try to hold onto him. Kevin has backed his decision with hard work and performances. I'd much rather have him on my side than the other."