KP pondering international return with South Africa

Out-of-favour England batsman Kevin Pietersen has admitted he is harbouring hopes of making a return to international cricket with his native country South Africa.

"Yes, it is a thought in my head," Pietersen was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. "If it happens, it happens, if it doesn't, it doesn't. Obviously, playing international is something I have done for a very long time. Do I miss playing international cricket? Do I miss batting in international cricket? Yes I do very much so you never know."

Pietersen, a veteran of 104 Tests and 136 one-day caps for England, has been out of the national squad since his central contract was cancelled by the ECB following the team's Ashes washout by Australia in 2014.

As per the International Cricket Council rules, a player must wait four years to re-qualify for another side if he has represented a Test-playing country.

"The eligibility for South Africa is still [over] a year away. So we will have to wait and see but [an England call-up] is definitely still an option," said the 35-year-old.

Last year, Pietersen's hopes of earning an England recall suffered a heavy blow when Andrew Strauss, the England and Wales Cricket Board's director, told the maverick batsman that he would not be considered for an international recall.

He displayed a rich vein of form in the Ram Slam T20 in South Africa and Australia's Big Bash League and recently struck an unbeaten 14-ball 21 to help new franchise Rising Pune Supergiants claim victory in the opening match of the Indian Premier League.