Flower says Pietersen to face hearing over 'irresponsible' Tweet

(AP)

It may seem small fry compared to other current matters of cricketing probity but Kevin Pietersen will face disciplinary action after his misjudged Twitter message this week.

In what was reported in much of the press, including The Independent, as a foul-mouthed rant, Pietersen called the selectors to task after being dropped from England's one-day squads.

His Tweet, which was not intended for public consumption but for a friend, said that the decision was "a fuck-up". There was no other swearing in the message, which revealed his omission to the world.

England's coach Andy Flower said yesterday that Pietersen would face a disciplinary hearing. A similar fate befell the Yorkshire bowler, Azeem Rafiq, who lambasted the selectors with some choice language after he was disciplined by the Under-19 team earlier this season.

"He has spoken to me," said Flower. "He says he made a bit of a mistake, and I'll take him at his word. But, still, there'll be a disciplinary hearing about that, because we can't have situations like that happening.

"We want to allow the players to use that form of the media, if that's what they choose to. I don't quite see it myself. But, if that's what they choose, we want to allow them the freedom to do that.

"But, with that freedom, comes responsibility, so they've got to use it responsibly. This is an example of not using it responsibly."

England, meanwhile, have a game to play tomorrow, the first of two Twenty20 matches in Cardiff against Pakistan. They are bound to be conducted in a cautious atmosphere following the allegations of bribery made against Pakistan players and the ICC's decision to suspend three of them.

Flower said that his team's approach would stay as it was last Sunday, the fourth day of the Lord's Test, when the story broke. England bowled out Pakistan for 147 and won the match by an innings and 225 runs.

"I thought they held themselves very well on that last day," said Flower. "They did not get into anything untowards under Andrew Strauss's leadership, and it will be the same here with Paul Collingwood, they will carry themselves in a dignified way and a way that properly represents their country.

"You are looking to find an edge over your opponents but I think cricketers are pretty good at judging what is acceptable and what is not."

England must make at least two changes from the side that played in their last T20 match, the final of the World T20 in May, when they thrillingly became champions. As well as Pietersen being dropped, opener Michael Lumb is out injured.

With doubts also hanging over Stuart Broad, who has a groin strain, Ajmal Shahzad has been called into the squad. Steven Davies will keep wicket but Craig Kieswetter, out of runs this summer, has been retained as opening batsman, presumably to avoid changing both of the first-wicket pair.

Pakistan have only 13 players to pick from, three of their original party having been suspended after accusations of being involved in a betting scam during the fourth Test.

Sophia Gardens Details

England (probable)

P D Collingwood (capt), C Kiewswetter, S M Davies (wkt), R S Bopara, E J G Morgan, L J Wright, M H Yardy, T T Bresnan, G P Swann, R J Sidebottom, J M Anderson.

Pakistan (probable)

Shahid Afridi (capt), Shazaib Hasan, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Yousuf, Fawad Alam, Kamran Akmal (wkt), Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar.

*TV: Sky Sports 1, HD1 (2-6.30pm)

*Weather: Dry and cloudy with sunny intervals. Maximum temperature: 20C.