Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 1087 Fri. June 22, 2007  
   
Sports


Pietersen rules out captaincy


Kevin Pietersen has ruled himself out of the running to be England's one-day captain, saying the "time is not right" for him to accept the job.

He said: "It's something I've thought about long and hard but it's not the right time for me to do it.

"Now is the time for me to be doing team stuff -- playing and supporting."

England will name their new one-day captain on Friday, with all-rounder Paul Collingwood now clear favourite to take over from Michael Vaughan.

Pietersen is ranked the number one batsman in the world in one-day internationals.

Some pundits considered the Hampshire captain as the more progressive choice of captain after Vaughan resigned from the role on Monday.

But the 26-year-old, the choice of both Darren Gough and Geoffrey Boycott, said: "At this stage of my career, I've only played 50-odd one-day internationals and 20 or 30 Tests.

"I would be humbled in future to be given the opportunity to captain my country but not now."