The Sri Lankan batting great Kumar Sangakkara believes the England team must find a way to bring Kevin Piertersen back into the international fold because he still has “so much to offer them”.

The 37-year-old Sangakkara, who struck four consecutive hundreds during the recent World Cup, is currently making his debut for Surrey alongside the returning Pietersen in their Country Championship season opener in Cardiff Glamorgan.

And speaking after the Asian Awards in London on Friday night, where he was honoured for his outstanding contribution to sport, Sangakkara praised the exiled England man for returning to county cricket in a bid to win back his Test spot.

“Kevin is a wonderful player and it is unfortunate that both him and the England management have not seen eye to eye in the past,” Sangakkara said. “But I think Kevin has shown a lot of courage by committing to a full county season to try and make a comeback and I think England will be much the better and much the richer for Kevin being a part of the English side going forward.

“For a player of Kevin’s ability not to play international cricket for his country is a shame but also looking at the England side, I think he has so much to offer them,” he added. “I think the way forward is to come to an agreement that allows Kevin to have a very fruitful few years playing for England and they will reap the benefits of him playing.”

(The Guardian)