Broad says Pietersen sacked in England's 'best interests'

England's limited-overs captain Stuart Broad believes that controversial batsman Kevin Pietersen has been sacked from the national set-up 'keeping the team's best interests at heart'.

According to Sport 24, Pietersen was released from his contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), after England's crushing 5-0 Ashes defeat in Australia, which also marked the end of Andy Flower's tenure as team director.

Although Broad supported Pietersen's move from the team, he still played down his involvement in the talks circulating around South Africa-born batsman's future in the team.

Broad said he was aware of the discussions regarding Pieterson at the end of the Australian tour, although he backed the decision, saying that it was made by the people who have England's best interests at heart.

Broad, who will captain the T20 world cup in Bangladesh, said that he has not captained Pietersen much, adding that although in 2012 the batsman did put in a few match winning performances but England has won many matches without Pieterson too.

Calling it the decision of the Board members, Broad wants to focus on their limited-over series in West Indies for now and put the Pietersen affair behind him.