Pietersen Fined For Twitter Comments On Nick Knight

Pietersen Fined For Twitter Comments On Nick Knight

Kevin Pietersen has been fined following his comments on Twitter

©REUTERS / Action Images

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has been fined and warned by the England and Wales Cricket Board for making negative comments on Twitter.

He used the microblogging platform to criticise former England international Nick Knight's role as a SKY commentator during the opening Test against the West Indies at Lord's.

A statement from ECB following the statement read as follows:

"The hearing considered recent comments made by Pietersen on Twitter to be prejudicial to the interests of the ECB and a breach of the England player conditions of employment in relation to clauses regarding public statements.

"Pietersen has been fined an undisclosed sum, part of which has been suspended for 12 months, in accordance with the terms and conditions of his England central contract."

Can somebody PLEASE tell me how Nick Knight has worked his way into the commentary box for Home Tests?? RIDICULOUS!!

— Kevin Pietersen (@kevinpp24) May 18, 2012

The above tweet was the subject of an ECB disciplinary hearing convened by Hugh Morris - Managing Director - England Cricket and Team Director Andy Flower.

It is not Pietersen's first run in with the ECB following his use of social media. In 2010, he revealed he had been dropped from the One-Day International team, using an expletive to describe his view of the situation ahead of a move to Surrey.

Knight played 17 Tests and 100 ODIs for England before his retirement in 2006, after which he moved into broadcasting.

© Cricket World 2012