No egos involved in axing Kevin Pietersen: Stuart Broad

England T20 captain Stuart Broad

England fast bowler Stuart Broad expressed his thoughts on the axing of Kevin Pietersen and more on Friday. He says that letting Pietersen go was in the best interest of the team.

Pietersen, along with team director Andy Flower, was shown the exit door for the second time by the England Cricket Board (ECB) after England’s embarrassing 5-0 Ashes defeat at the hands of the Aussies. Broad said he supported the move by the ECB to end Pietersen’s glorious international career.

“I was aware of discussions towards the end of the Australia tour, but I was not deeply involved particularly,” he said.

“It was a decision made by guys that have the English cricket team at their heart, and they want the team to improve. The guys that made the decision are very keen for England cricket to move forward.

“There’s no egos involved in making decisions like this.”

Stuart Broad, who is the captain of England’s T20 team, says he is looking forward to the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh next month.

Before leaving to West Indies for their limited over series, Broad said, “It’s about improving performances on the field and atmospheres off it.”

“All I can focus on is this trip now. Personally I’ve not captained Kev a huge amount, but when I did, 2012 I think was the last time, he put in a couple of match-winning performances.

“He’s done that for many a year, but we’ve also won some great games without him. I have fond memories of KP from 2010 when he was the kingpin in helping us win that (Twenty20) World Cup.

“But it’s time for the guys in that changing room to realise they can be match-winners and can step up now.”

He added: “We do have to make improvements, that’s obvious. It was heartbreaking to lose 5-0 and we lost a lot of good men in doing that.

“It’s a winter that was a disaster, but as an England side we have to look forward now. We can’t dwell on it now and we must move forward.”