Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen appears to have confirmed his retirement from professional cricket. After helping Quetta Gladiators move closer to a third successive final in the ongoing Pakistan Super League [PSL], he stuck to his decision of not travelling to Pakistan with the team for the knockout stages.
In a recent post on his Instagram account, Pietersen wrote, “I’m super proud of everything! Thank you for all the quite lovely msgs! I loved entertaining you all! Ciao, cricket! I love this game!”
Since his England exile, the 37-year-old has become a T20 specialist playing in domestic leagues all around the globe. He finished his professional career in England with Surrey last summer and closed his chapter in the Big Bash League with Melbourne Stars in January this year.
One of his tweets read: "Just been told that I scored 30000+ runs which included 152 fifty's & 68 hundreds in my professional career. Time to move on!"
In the beginning of the current season of PSL, Pietersen had hinted that his professional career would come to an end by the end of his recent cricketing assignment.
"I've hated every goodbye but also known its work so just gotten on with it. The journey has been absolutely amazing and for the next 3/4 weeks I'll be a current professional and then its chapter closed," he said.
"[I've] had my time and loved it but the endless goodbyes and travel needs to calm down now. Cricket has been the best."
Kevin Pitersen had an absolutely brilliant career with England. He is the second most run-getter for the team across all three formats of international cricket.
Pietersen was the Man of the Tournament as England won the World T20 title in 2010. He won four Ashes series and hit 8,181 runs in 104 Tests.
Regarding his decision of not traveling to Pakistan, Quetta tweeted: "You will be missed @KP24 Great career!! Thank you for everything. Wish you could have stayed with us till PSL final but we respect your decision."
However, the South Africa-born has confirmed that he would continue to support Quetta as they are eyeing to finally win the tournament after losing two successive finals.
In a video posted on the Quetta Gladiators' official Twitter feed, Pietersen said: "Hi guys, it is with a very hardened heart, a very sorry heart that I have to leave Dubai, going back to London now.
"I wish I could travel but unfortunately family's very important, family decision, and I hope that you can respect my decision and my family's decision not to travel."
“I'll be totally on top of everything we do over the next couple of days. Third time lucky, remember," he added.