Kevin Pietersen makes peace with England Cricket Board

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - The Associated Press

Kevin Pietersen (R) has committed to playing for England in all three forms of the game until at least 2015 after making peace with the England Cricket Board (ECB). REUTERS Photo

Kevin Pietersen will be slowly reintegrated into the England team after the star batsman settled his drawn-out rift with team management, earning him a new central contract.

Pietersen has been out of favor with England since being dropped for sending provocative texts to South Africa players about then-test captain Andrew Strauss during a test series in August, disrupting the unity of the team.

“It’s been a horrible situation for all involved, but it is time to move forward,” Pietersen said at a news conference in Colombo yesterday. “All being well, I’ll be back in an England shirt as soon as possible.”
The England and Wales Cricket Board released a statement minutes earlier saying Pietersen would undertake a program of reintegration after which selectors “will consider Kevin for future matches.”
Pietersen isn’t expected to be recalled in time for the start of the upcoming tour of India, with England flying out on Oct. 25. The five-match one-day series against the Indians at the start of January is a possible return date, although it is more likely he will be back for England when the team travels to New Zealand in February for a two-month tour.

He has been engaged in talks with management and new test captain Alastair Cook in recent weeks after pledging his commitment to England, which had been in doubt this year as he sought a new contract that would free him up for commitments in the lucrative Indian Premier League.

The dispute with England saw him miss out on selection for the World Twenty20.