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KP: England jealous of IPL

2012-04-12 06:03:06

Delhi Daredevils batsman Kevin Pietersen claims the lack of interest in the Indian Premier League in England is “down to a lot of jealousy”

While the IPL, which is in its fifth edition this year, has been a big hit with fans across the globe, the tournament has attracted minimal coverage in the United Kingdom.

Pietersen, who along with Eoin Morgan are the only two England regulars participating in this year’s competition, told CNN-IBN: “The IPL is very much struggling to find acceptance back home.

“It saddens me because I have had an amazing time at the IPL. It’s down to a lot of jealousy I think, which is sad.

“It saddens me, all the negative publicity the IPL gets in the [UK] media, I don’t know why.”

Several of England’s players have been snubbed by IPL franchises during auctions and Pietersen admits he would love to see more of his international colleagues playing in the tournament as they are better than some of the “second-rate Australians” who are getting games.

“I’d love to see more English players available for - well not only available, I would love to see them picked up because I also see some of the games being played at the moment and I just think: ‘Man, up here would have been lot better if the Andersons, Bresnans and Boparas were involved in the IPL’,” he said.

“The guys like Bell, you’ve got world-class players who are sitting in England now wanting to play the IPL when you’ve got some second-rate Australians getting gigs here.

“So for me, it’s sad that I don’t have fellow team-mates playing in the IPL and embarking on a magnificent journey here in the subcontinent and it’ll help English cricket as well.”