Cook may have played influential role in ECB decision to end Pietersen

London : England captain Alastair Cook had reportedly played an influential role in the decision to end the international career of his teammate and controversial batsman Kevin Pietersen.

Cook was part of a three-man England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) panel, including new managing director Paul Downton and chairman of selectors James Whittaker, who met the batsman and told him of their decision to leave him out of the forthcoming tour of the West Indies and the World Twenty20.

According to the BBC, it is alleged that Cook felt the South Africa-born player”s departure was in the best interests of the team, although he was the one to bring Pietersen back into the England fold after he had been dropped for sending provocative text messages to South Africa players.

However, the report mentioned that Pietersen, who scored 8,181 runs at an average of 47 in 104 Tests for England, feels that he was not given a clear explanation for his sacking despite asking Downton and Whittaker for justification, adding that he is said to be angered by stories of stand-up arguments with Cook and alienation from the team.

Although the report mentioned that Pietersen admitted to occasionally turning up late for meetings and feeling frustrated by England”s overly analytical approach, but he pointed to his support for younger players and work with tail-end batsmen as examples of his commitment to the cause.

Even though there is no written condition that Pietersen will never be allowed to play for England again, it is believed to be highly unlikely that he could ever be recalled as whoever is chosen to replace Andy Flower as England team director is likely to be informed that the South Africa-born batsman is not available for selection.