Pietersen says Twenty20 and IPL are cricket's future instead of 'dull' ODIs

London, July 9(ANI): England batsman Kevin Pietersen has said Twenty20 is the future of cricket, and a tournament like the Indian Premier League is here to stay, while branding one-day cricket as dull and boring.

Pietersen had unexpectedly announced his retirement from the one-day format for England last month.

However, he had expressed his desire to continue playing T20s for England, but the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) didn't allow him to play the shortest version of the game due to their policy that a player would only be allowed to play T20 for England when he makes him available for the one-day games as well.

Pietersen questioned the sheer volume of international cricket that places extreme demands on players' bodies and their family lives, and added the one-day format must simply give way if players are not to be burnt out prematurely.

"The 50-over game is the format most under threat," The Daily Mail quoted Pietersen, as saying.

"Twenty20 and the IPL are here to stay. Test matches will always be key to how you want to be rated and remembered as a player, but the entertainment package is Twenty20 cricket," he added.

"The middle overs of a one-day international can be dull. Do other players feel that way? It's difficult for me to answer but I think some have commented on it," he said.

England insist that if they had given special dispensation to Pietersen and allowed him to just play Twenty20 limited-overs cricket then other players would have followed suit, undermining their attempt to win their first global 50-over trophy.

"Would they? I've seen speculation that five or six of our players would do the same thing as me if I was allowed to play 20 over cricket, but ask them. You go and find out. I'm sure you will find out the answers. People can speculate as much as they like, but ask them," Pietersen added. (ANI)