Pietersen furious after newspaper's allegations

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Cricket365
October 5, 2014

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen will be in the news all this week, what with his autobiography coming out, but the frenzy began in earnest on Sunday after he reacted with fury to an article in the Daily Mail.

The newspaper piece, written by cricket columnist Paul Newman, alleged that Pietersen was refusing to give media interviews about his book, and then posed a few somewhat facetious questions Pietersen should answer.

The player reacted on Twitter, denying the interview allegation, saying: "Dear @Paul_NewmanDM. Your personal attack in today's Mail on Sunday, is – even by your own high standards – hilarious. Pls let me explain…

"Your claim that I've refused one-on-one interviews is laughable. This will become evident very shortly & even more so throughout the week.

"In fact, when my publishers announced the book & invited such interview requests, you took the time to email them simply saying 'no thanks'.

"Don't worry though, your colleagues will let you know how I've shirked no questions & answered all the vitriol & lies you've thrown at me."

He went on to ask if his scheduled interview with Alison Kervin, of the same paper, was cancelled: "This is the best bit though. The Mail on Sunday are actually scheduled, at the request of @alikervin, for a 1on1 interview later this week!

"Oops!!!!!! @alikervin, is this your way of telling me you no longer want an interview? Please can you advise asap. Many thanks."

Kervin responded with: "@KP24 Very, very keen to do an interview. You'll be treated with respect. Will give it lots of space & it will be written honestly & fairly."

Pietersen's book is expected to hold explosive revelations about his time with the team, given his bitter ending with the ECB, and is arguably the most highly anticipated cricket book of the year.