Cricket: Dispute must end, says Botham

Former England captain Ian Botham wants Kevin Pietersen’s dispute with the ECB settled ‘like grown-ups’ ahead of the crucial third Test, according to Sky Sports. Pietersen is not ready to given any assurances to the board about this Test career beyond the series against South Africa. He mentioned that there were ‘obstacles’ that were needed to be overcome if he were to continue playing Test cricket for England. “Those sort of things should be dealt in private between the people involved, not in the open in the run-up to a huge Test match,” said Botham. “It reflects poorly on the team, poorly on the game and poorly on everyone involved. It must be sorted out like grown-ups. They should not be airing their dirty linen in public.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2012.