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Summary Both sides are at fault, the bottom line is Pietersen is not playing international cricket, he said.
Australian spin legend Shane Warne on Tuesday said it was a tragedy that his friend Kevin Pietersen is in international exile but that both the player and English cricket chiefs were at fault.Pietersen has been left out of Englands World Twenty20 squad, continuing his isolation over provocative text messages, allegedly criticising England captain Andrew Strauss, to players from his native South Africa.He was dropped from the England team that lost the third Test against South Africa at Lords by 51 runs on Monday over the allegations, and was also left out of the forthcoming one-day and Twenty20 squads for matches against the Proteas.Warne said Pietersen, a long-time friend, would be one of the first people to admit that hes acted in a way thats been a bit silly and stupid and Im sure hed like to take back a few of his actions.But he defended the South African-born batsman, saying both sides are at fault -- the bottom line is Kevin Pietersen is not playing international cricket, which is a tragedy.Theres a bit too much ego at the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board), theres no give or take or compromise, Warne said in a press conference in Sydney before Pietersens omission from the World Twenty20 side.The (English) cricket team, I think theyve let Kevin Pietersen down -- it shouldnt have gotten to this stage, he added.If he doesnt sign his England contract, if he doesnt play for England again, I just think thats a tragedy.Warne said the leadership of England, whether it be the selectors, ECB, coaching, captain, all that -- they have to put their hands up and say we havent handled this as best we can.Kevin Pietersen has to put his hand up and say Ive conducted myself in a pretty ordinary fashion, too.Warne said Strauss and Pietersen should have sorted out their differences privately, even if that involved them punch(ing) the absolute whatever out of each other.Do it, get it out of your system then come back, put your arm around each other and walk out to play together, said Warne.
