Pietersen unhappy with CA over scheduling
Jan 20, 2017 - 6:24 AM Kevin Pietersen has hit out at Cricket Australia over the scheduling clash between the Pakistan one-day series and the BBL, accusing the governing body of stealing the summer of its stars.Heading Pietersen's concerns is the fact his Melbourne Stars will be without allrounder Marcus Stoinis for their key final-round match against the Sydney Sixers, as he remains in the Australian ODI camp.
Stoinis was called into the Australian squad on Monday as injury cover for Mitchell Marsh, but was allowed to remain in Melbourne for the Stars' clash on Tuesday night with Brisbane.
However, he has since joined the Australian set-up, leaving Pietersen angry.
"I just find it bitterly disappointing that a guy can't play in a fixture tomorrow for us, which is a big fixture for us, when he's sitting in a hotel room," Pietersen said.
"I'm really disappointed.
"I'm working with him on a personal level to improve his game so that he can benefit Australian cricket, which he could do on Sunday, if we spend more time together, but he's not going to be here."
The Stars have been hit heavily this summer by national selection.
With international bowler John Hastings already out injured, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner and Adam Zampa were part of the original group selected in Australia's one-day squad.
They then had Peter Handscomb return from Test selection for one match before he was called up, while Zampa was released back to play on Tuesday for match time before returning to the national squad, along with the newly selected Stoinis.
"Stoinis might not play on Sunday, but he certainly would play for us tomorrow.
"The Australian cricketers want to play the Big Bash.
"I put a poll out the other day, asking the Australian public who the stars of the summer were. 60 per cent of the public said the Big Bash stars were the stars of the summer."
The Stars could also well do with their international players on Saturday night.
A win could catapult them into a top-two home final position, while a loss would leave them with in a remote situation of possibly missing the playoffs.
But it is not a concern for Pietersen, who is championing a Rhino awareness campaign throughout the match, during which $1 from each spectator attending will be donated to a wildlife charity.
"We've done so well with guys leaving our squad over the past few seasons," he said.
"It hasn't hit us as hard because we have a great team spirit."
Source: AAP
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