Kevin Pietersen was not provoked, says South Africa manager

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Kevin Pietersen

The manager of the South Africa cricket team has called claims that Kevin Pietersen was coaxed into sending provocative text messages about England team-mates "irresponsible and unfair".

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier accused South African players of a "definite policy".

"For them to turn around and get our players involved is really, really unfair," said Mohammed Moosajee.

"Kevin Pietersen knows he sent the messages to our players."

Moosajee said Cricket South Africa's acting chief executive Jacques Faul would contact Collier on Monday to explain his reasoning before issuing a statement.

Moosajee added: "The fact David hasn't had sight of those messages, for him to make insinuations that the Proteas players instigated this whole fracas is both irresponsible and unfair.

"We confirmed initially that it was all banter."

Pietersen was left out of the final Test between the two countries in August and omitted from the World Twenty20 squad and this winter's tour of India.

He allegedly sent messages to members of the opposition criticising then England captain Andrew Strauss during the second Test.

The messages were not saved to prove the exact wording, so the ECB relied on "binding assurances" from Pietersen that they were not derogatory before accepting his apology and handing him a new four-month contract.

Pietersen will now undergo a reintegration period involving face-to-face meetings to rebuild trust with the other players, and team director Andy Flower will then decide when he feels the 32-year-old batsman should return to the squad.

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  • Come on BBC. This is like the 50th KP story over the last three weeks. He is a good player, but he ain't that good. KP's media guys must be loving all this coverage - only good for him. As much as KP is a victim of Broad, Anderson and Swann, he is also to blame for this rubbish. He did not have to send the texts. Why are these guys all such clowns - can't they just play cricket to win?

  • The ECB need to move on, blaming the South Africans for this is ridiculous. KP is the person who sent the texts he should take the blame. Sledging is common on the field and the players should be used to it, if it is also done via text the players again should ignore it as they do on the field.

  • What was a gentleman's game that has descended into a mire of on and off field sledging and "wind-up" banter. It is a mental game in that sense and KP really isn't up to playing those at the top level. His ability with the bat is obvious, however his decision making and mental resilience have always been doubtful.

  • Really? This school playground saga keeps being dragged up and I honestly dont believe that anyone cares except the ECB and BBC sports journalists. Please stop cluttering up the sports pages with this rubbish.

  • KP is a talented cricketer without a shadow of a doubt. He is more or less tailor made for the 50 over game or T20. Not saying he is not a good test match player but his style suits the shorter format. Bt this saga of him and the whole issue is just so childish from him. He should have just kept his mouth shut after the ECB offered him the 4 months contract and gt on to prove his services. IDIOTIC

  • I can't believe this is still on-going!!

    KP is a true Englishman now...as he is trying to blame someone else instead of admitting wrong.

    KP and the ECB need to grow up, get on with it...it's just a game of cricket for goodness sake

  • So if SA didn't coax the messages out of KP, either:

    1) They're lying, or
    2) KP made up a story that would help get him off the hook (or so he thought)

    Without the messages, no-one can prove the truth either way, but I know which I believe

  • So KP is "sorry" is he? He says reading from a piece of paper.That sums up his intelligence or was it a bank note he was reading from ?

  • Provoked or not, KP has only got himself to blame.
    Would he put his hand in a fire if Smith, Kallis and ABDV told him too?

  • For those suggesting that the only way the media could have found out about texts is through the SA players ... think a little harder, or keep your head in the sand. Your choice I guess! Either way, this is an incredibly childish saga for international sport!

  • Saint-Judgey, the same way you can un-ban someone just by accepting their own "blinding assurance" that there was nothing derogatory in the texts. He's not going to say anything else is he.

  • The messages were deleted and SA confirmed it as banter? WT F is all the fuss about? How can u ban someone with no evidence unless it is a witch hunt?

  • Sportsmen should not use twitter, they are too immature

  • Either way SA got KP in the muddle !!!

    Utter tosh, KP got himself in trouble he needs no help!

  • SO lets get this straight: SA provoked KP to respond to text messages about team mates, then SA downplayed the whole thing for the sake of KP and the ECB, but the ECB were not happy enough with that and they dropped KP and now take him back but its all SA's fault???

    Seriously how old are you guys? Grown men not making their own choices.

  • Sports Personallity of the Year award for the biggest Muppets in sport for the Year 2012.

    Only 1 entry and clear winner, The ECB. Award accepted by KP

  • Can I just say as an overall opinion on this matter......freedom of speech is a mere fantasy in the modern world!

  • This really is very poor from Collier. It's time for everyone to keep quiet and let the wounds heal. It only gives ammunition to those who want to see the ECB's handling of the whole issue as incompetent.

  • Let's assume SA players didn't provoke KP! This doesn't answer how the texts that were sent between close friends came to the public domain? Provocative or Opportunistic? Either way SA got KP in the muddle !!!

    Hope KP can now tell who the real friends are !

  • This was the bit I found most hilarious: ''There was definitely a policy that was happening but we shouldn't blame the South Africans, we should be above that,''

    That demonstrates very clearly the 'high and mighty' attitude that exists within the ECB. Surely Collier must see the obvious irony in that statement?

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