CSA Accepts ECB Apology Over Pietersen Texts

CSA Accepts ECB Apology Over Pietersen Texts

David Collier (left) implied last week that South Africa players had tried to undermine Kevin Pietersen and England players

©REUTERS / Action Images

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have moved to put the Kevin Pietersen text messaging saga behind them.

CSA have accepted an apology from ECB Chief Executive David Collier following comments he made last week suggesting that South Africa players had been involved in a plan to undermine their English counterparts.

Pietersen was dropped following revelations that he had been in contact with members of the South African team during the Test series earlier this year, and subsequent public comments he made regarding his position in the team and dressing room relations.

After he gave ECB a binding assurance as to the content of the text messages, he was made available for selection and could feature on this winter's tour of India despite not being picked in the original touring party.

"Cricket South Africa has made clear to ECB that the electronic messages were not part of any initiative or plan to undermine the England team or players," an ECB statement read.

"ECB has unreservedly accepted that assurance and wishes to reiterate that it has no issue at all with CSA - or the Proteas players - on this matter and appreciates that the South African and England players follow the highest ethical standards of behaviour.

"Although the two Boards do not agree on the sequence of events regarding any responses to messages between Kevin Pietersen and certain Proteas players, CSA and SACA accept Mr Collier's apology based upon his earlier utterances that the team may have acted in a way which was underhand. 

"Both CSA and ECB regard this matter as now closed and will not comment on the confidential information shared in discussion between the Boards."

© Cricket World 2012