LONDON — Kevin Pietersen was left out of England's World Twenty20 squad announced Tuesday, as his international cricket exile continued. The South Africa-born batsman was the man of the tournament when England won the 2010 World Twenty20 in the Caribbean — the first time it had lifted a major piece of International Cricket Council silverware. But he was dropped from the England team that lost the third Test against South Africa at Lord's by 51 runs Monday after sending “provocative” text messages, allegedly criticizing England Test captain Andrew Strauss, to South African players. Pietersen, who recently made himself available again for all international cricket after retiring from one-dayers, was also left out of England's squad for the forthcoming one-day and Twenty20 series against South Africa starting in Cardiff Friday. England national selector Geoff Miller, explaining Pietersen's omission from the one-day and Twenty20 squads to play South Africa, said: “Kevin Pietersen's future involvement is still being determined and he was therefore not considered for selection in either squad.” The World Twenty20 starts in Sri Lanka next month, with England beginning the defense of its title against Afghanistan on Sept. 21. England's most recent Twenty20 match saw it beat West Indies by seven wickets at Trent Bridge in June with Alex Hales, taking the opener's spot vacated by Pietersen, making 99. The 15-man squad announced Tuesday contains eight survivors from the 2010 party, including seamer Stuart Broad, now the captain, off-spinner Graeme Swann and wicketkeeper batsman Craig Kieswetter, who made 63 in the seven-wicket final win over Australia in Barbados. Promising players such as Jonathan Bairstow, who scored 95 and 54 in Pietersen's absence during the third Test, Hampshire spinner Danny Briggs and Somerset batsman Jos Buttler have also been included. England coach Andy Flower Tuesday refused to say whether Pietersen still had an international future. But Flower, himself a world-class batsman in his playing days with Zimbabwe, said the present stand-off was a “very sad situation for everyone involved”. “There are still issues unresolved and we will be addressing those issues when we have time to do so,” Flower told Sky Sports Tuesday. “Let me just be clear, this is not just an issue between the captain and Kevin. There are deeper issues.” Broad, a regular for England in all three formats, has been rested from the five 50-over one-day matches against South Africa with Miller saying this was in the best interests of both the player and the team. World T20 squad: Stuart Broad (captain), Jonathan Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Craig Kieswetter (wicketkeeper), Michael Lumb, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright. — Agencies
