Will Kevin Pietersen play for South Africa

Would Kevin Pietersen consider playing for the Proteas Well, former England bowler Darren Gough believes so. Pietersen, 35, has not played Test cricket for England since January 3, 2014, after which he was dropped from the team and told he would not be picked in future.

However, under ICC rules, once a player has represented a Test-playing country, he must wait four years to re-qualify for another side. That would mean the controversial Pietersen will be eligible to represent the Proteas — or any other country — in early 2018. Pietersen would be 37 at such time. In an interview with talkSPORT, Gough said Pietersen may consider representing his country of birth. “I think he will be tempted, given the way he has been treated, or the way he thinks he has been treated over the past few years,” said Gough.

“He is not going to play county cricket this year unless somebody comes out of the blue and offers him a ridiculous fee. He definitely won’t play county cricket but he might play T20.

“He’s played out in South Africa this year and did brilliantly. They absolutely love him out there. All these people who think Graeme Smith hates him (are wrong), they are like best mates. He is quite high up in South African cricket. It wouldn’t surprise me if they tried to persuade him to play.”