Amidst all the uncertainty regarding the availability of top England players for the upcoming Bangladesh tour, Kevin Pietersen has cautioned Eoin Morgan about possible backlash from ECB in case he decides to rule himself out.
In a column for The Telegraph, he referred to Test skipper Alastair Cook’s reported commitment to the trip while also recalling his own personal experience with security briefings and their aftermath.
Pietersen began, “Eoin Morgan has no choice but to go to Bangladesh. It is a case of one in, all in so if he does not go he will have a red cross next to his name as far as the bosses at the England and Wales Cricket Board are concerned. When Alastair Cook is willing to lead the Test squad it puts huge pressure on Eoin as captain of the one-day team.”
“He may still decide not to make the trip, and it is his right to take that personal choice, but it will be held against him at some stage in the future, despite any assurances to the contrary. ‘When everyone else says they are willing to go why do you think you are more important than the others?’ That will be the unsaid message. People at Lord’s have long memories. They will not forget that he went against their advice and refused to captain England on a tour.”
Also Read: Kevin Pietersen has apprehensions about England's tour of Bangladesh
Following an extensive security assessment in Bangladesh, ECB approved the tour comprising of 3 ODIs and 2 Tests. Though the top brass have exuded confidence about sending full strength teams, players’ apprehensions could lead to a delicate situation.
Admitting to the fact that individual decisions could not be taken in this issue, Pietersen wrote, “I have sat in those security briefings and basically you just get told what to do. It never really felt like much of a personal choice. The board tells you it is safe and the tour is going ahead. End of. The message is pretty clear: they expect you to go.”
The 36-year old added, “The senior guys with a history of high-quality performances can probably risk their place on one trip. But the younger guys do not really have any choice. If, for example, Alex Hales does not go then it is the end of his Test career. He does not have the runs in the bank to make such a choice and then walk back into the team. Someone will take his place and he will be gone. I suspect in the end they will all go.”
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