ECB set to clear Pietersen's name for IPL auction

The England and Wales Cricket Board is all set to make players available for the Indian Premier League from 10 April to early May, making controversial batsman Kevin Pietersen direct beneficiary of its decision.

Pietersen will this week be confirmed as one of the big names available at next month's IPL auction.

Despite suggestions that the England team director, Andy Flower, may require his contracted players to spend some time playing County Championship after the Ashes debacle of the winter, there have been no attempts thus far to narrow the extended window for which they have been made available for the IPL, after lengthy discussions between the ECB and the Professional Cricketers' Association, The Guardian reports.

Pietersen should be a more attractive proposition in the auction, which begins on 12 February, as he will be available for the first five weeks of the seven-week tournament.

The IPL starts from April 8, two days after the World Twenty20 final in Bangladesh.

Under the terms of the PCA-ECB agreement, centrally contracted players must be home and available to play on or around 13 May, one week before the start of England's one-day series against Sri Lanka.