Dropped from World T20 side,critics predict the worst for KP

When the team heads to Lanka next month to defend that World Twenty20 title,Pietersen will not be in the 15-man squad. 8220;It8217;s a very sad situation for everyone involved,8221; England team director Andy Flower said Tuesday.

There appears to be no way back for Pietersen after he sent text messages to South Africa players that were apparently critical of his teammates during the Test series that ended Monday with the Proteas replacing England as the No. 1 test team in the world.

8220;He8217;s absolute history,8221; former England captain Tony Greig said. There8217;s no way he8217;ll ever play again.8221;

In what may have been his last game for England,the second Test against South Africa at Headingley,Pietersen hit a brutal 149 against a fearsome bowling attack. With his talent at the crease increasingly overshadowed by his petulance away from it,the ECB is in no rush to rebuild bridges.

8220;He played superbly in our last World T20,but the circumstances that exist at the moment mean that he can8217;t be selected for us,8221; Flower said.

But the problems are not just about the rift between him and other team members. 8220;There are deeper issues,8221; Flower said. Pietersen8217;s flamboyance has never sat comfortably with the traditionalists at Lord8217;s. He posted a YouTube video earlier this month to try and affirm his commitment to the England team. But Flower said the issues have to be resolved face-to-face with people,not through PR agencies.8221;

Character problems

8220;This thing seems to be getting worse and worse by the day,8221; Greig told the BBC. 8220;He had character problems back in South Africa,he8217;s not an easy bloke in any team environment.8221;

Born and raised in Pietermaritzburg,KP qualified to play for England through his mother,Penny. He opted for England at age 20,claiming his path to the South African national side was being obstructed by a quota system.

He emerged as a major batting force for England during the team8217;s win over Australia in the 2005 Ashes series,and was briefly appointed captain in 2008.

But he was an increasing source of tension,holding onto the captaincy for just five months. The resignation in January 2009 followed a power struggle with coach Peter Moores over selection decisions. And when he was then dropped by England for the first time the following year,he made his anger clear by posting a profane comment on Twitter,which led to a fine.

Now he is isolated,with Shane Warne one of his few defenders. 8220;England have let him down,8221; Warne said. 8220;Some players are a little bit different and need different things. It shouldn8217;t have got to this.