Pietersen, who returned to the Test side for the ongoing series after being sidelined due to the text message scandal during the home rubber against South Africa earlier this year, did not figure in the 13-strong England squad for the two T20 Internationals in Pune (December 20) and Mumbai (December 22). He was, however, named in the 15-member ODI squad for the five-match series which begins at Rajkot on January 11.
Off-spinner Graeme Swann, who contributed substantially in England’s 10-wicket defeat of India in the second Test, has been omitted from both the squads as the England and Wales Cricket Board went for rotational policy.
National selector Geoff Miller said the ECB will have to resort to the rotation of players to manage their workload, apparently in view of the back-to-back Ashes Series coming up. “We are constantly looking to manage the workload of players as effectively as possible and this winter is no different so there are number of players who are being rested for parts of the winter programme,” he said.
Squads: T20 Stuart Broad (C), Jonny Bairstow, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, James Tredwell, Luke Wright.
ODI: Alastair Cook (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, James Anderson/Stuart Broad.