ECB will have to explain why it dumped leading run scorer KP once his book is released

The England and Walses Cricket Board (ECB) is likely to be placed in an awkward situation post the release of Kevin Pietersen's long-awaited autobiography next week.

It may and will have to probably explain why it took the decision to dump England's leading scorer across all formats of the game, and also explain the outlining up to 50 so-called misdemeanours he committed in Australia in 2013.

Since the confidentiality agreement affixed to Pietersen expired at midnight on Tuesday, one can expect the first shots to be fired from either camp early next week.

The question before all as regards Pietersen is whether the ECB will seek to stop him from cashing in as a Twenty20 gun for hire this winter.

 

In all probability, the ECB may wait for him to publish his book and be damned before releasing a measured response.

According to the Daily Mirror, former England team director Andy Flower is expected to cop the most searing criticism in 34-year-old Pietersen's book.

ECB Managing Director Paul Downton, skipper Alastair Cook and Matt Prior, his deputy in Australia, are also likely to be fired at.

Pietersen cancelled his -registration with Surrey at the end of August, which removes one potential avenue for the ECB to take -disciplinary action against unfavourable passages of prose because he is no longer under their jurisdiction.

But they could still refuse to give him international clearance to play for Melbourne Stars in this winter's Big Bash, where KP stands to make 300,000 pounds (including commercial -endorsements) as an overseas player in Australia's showpiece Twenty20 competition.

Pietersen would need a 'No Objection' certificate from the ECB, his home board, to join the slogfest in Australia.

The same barrier could potentially deny him cashing in on another stint in the Indian Premier League, where he is almost certain to be snapped up by a franchise in the draft auction early next year.

His first public -appearances to air his grievances about last winter's farce are scheduled to be a BBC Radio interview, followed by a public Question and Answer session in Manchester, on Tuesday, ahead of his book's official release on Thursday.

One way or another, he is destined to provide a seismic post-script to the English summer.