I'd have no problems playing with KP: Broad

Ahead of their upcoming tour to India, England’s Twenty20 captain Stuart Broad has said that Kevin Pietersen will be welcomed back to the English dressing room upon his return to the side.

“The team has no issues with KP coming back whenever the management decides he is ready to. I’d have no problems playing with him,” Broad told reporters here.

“Once the England management has decided when he’s available to return, he’ll be welcomed back into the changing room.

“I’m sure that if he came back for India or New Zealand, or whenever it is, that things will be fine within the team,” the pacer added.

The 32-year-old was axed from the team in August on charges of sending ‘provocative’ text messages to opposing players during the Test series against South Africa.
But the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had, last week, offered Pietersen a four-month fresh contract with a condition that he must undergo a ‘reintegration’ period before returning to the team.

Broad said he had not spoken to Pietersen since the Headingley Test against South
Africa, where the situation between the latter and ECB escalated.

“We know he’s a great cricketer, he’s won a lot of trophies and has been a really good team-mate for England, certainly ever since I’ve been playing for them. We know that when KP’s focused on playing for England and he’s happy, he’s a really dangerous player.”

England missed Pietersen’s service during their failed campaign in the World T20 in Sri Lanka.

“It’s hard to tell if the results would had been different had he been there. Obviously, he’s a fantastic Twenty20 cricketer who did wonders for us when we won the World Cup in 2010,” Broad said.

Pietersen is currently preparing for the Champions League T20 with Delhi Daredevils in South Africa.