Indian Premier League

Pietersen set for hefty payday

ESPN staff

February 6, 2014

Pietersen turned out for the Delhi Daredevils in 2012 © AFP

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Kevin Pietersen could be in for a huge payday in the Indian Premier League after being told his England career is over.

The ECB told Pietersen on Monday that he is no longer part of the national team's plans, but IPL founder Lalit Modi says his organisation is ready to take full advantage.

"He could go upwards of £2.5 to £3 million," Modi told BBC Radio 5 Live. "It is England's loss and the IPL's gain."

Pietersen, whose IPL career has been limited so far due to his commitments with England, has previously represented Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deccan Chargers and Delhi Daredevils.

What makes KP a franchise-magnet?

Wanted: Pietersen © Getty Images

Factors such as supreme talent, complete availability, match-winner status and a polished and suave speaker make Pietersen potentially one of the most attractive buys for IPL clubs, writes Nagraj Gollapudi.
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But he will go into the auction on February 12 as a free agent after Delhi opted not to retain any of their squad - and Modi expects plenty of interest to secure Pietersen's services.

"I think, as far as the franchises are concerned, this is like a God-sent gift," he added.

"Pietersen is one of the world's best players, without any doubt, as far as Twenty20 is concerned, and other forms of the game.

"Every IPL team owner's dream was to get Kevin Pietersen to be playing full-time, to be available for the whole season, but he had to make time for the national team, and rightly so."

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Matt Prior has dismissed claims from journalist Piers Morgan that he openly criticised team director Andy Flower during the winter's disastrous Ashes tour.

Morgan, a close friend of Pietersen, wrote on Twitter that Prior told team-mates Flower was "behaving like a headmaster" and "creating a schoolboy environment".

Prior retorted on his own Twitter account.

"I refuse to be attacked by a bloke that knows very little about what goes on in the England setup apart from rumour, gossip and hearsay from certain individuals," he wrote.

"Maybe I was recorded or 'hacked' but if not I'd like to see where these words I apparently said have come from?

"I'm not the kind of person to divulge what is said in team meetings but all I will say is that Flower, Cook and the rest of my team-mates know exactly what I said and the way in which it was meant!"

I don't do this PR, spinning media rubbish but I refuse to be attacked by a bloke that knows very little about what goes on in the England..
— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) February 5, 2014