After the retirement from international cricket, Kevin Pietersen has definitely become a freelancer. The tussle between him and the England Cricket Board (ECB) must have hurt him deeply but it seems he has taken it in his stride. His upright personality and dynamic thinking is helping him get out of that problem and he is enjoying the life at the moment in IPl.
His enigmatic personality is intact and he is going to take his experience and personality to a new level as he has planned to open his first academy — Kevin Pietersen Academy — in Dubai and the next one would be in India.
“It’s going to start in October in Dubai. The venue is still to be confirmed. Kids from 7 to 18 years of age will be part of the academy. There will be different courses and we will encourage kids from all over the world to come to take up the course for two weeks. I am going to fund a lot of disadvantaged kids and will have a hands-on approach towards the academy,” Pietersen told reporters on the sidelines of an event at Ambedkar Stadium where he announced the city’s two lucky winners who will be flying to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil as flag bearers for one of the matches.
“There will be different courses and we will encourage kids from all over the world to come to take up the course for two weeks. I am going to fund a lot of disadvantaged kids and will have a hands-on approach towards the academy. Definitely, India is one of the places. I am going to target India next (for his academy),” the former England batsman added on Sunday.
He talked about various issues ranging from his love for EPl side Chelsea, Indian cricket and his wish to go to South Africa for a cheap holiday trip.But when the interaction moved towards his form and of his team Daredevils, he replied as a professional. “My finger is still not perfect and in that sense it has not been easy. We are not winning the key moments. But I can tell you we are not far off from turning things around. Our batting is absolutely fine, we just need to tie up some bits and pieces, and we are not far off in bowling,” the South African born player explains.
His post-IPl life would be spent by playing for Surrey and his stint in the Caribbean Premier league.Expressing his love for Chelsea, he said, “Chelsea is my team. I am good friends with many players in Chelsea, including Frank lampard, Ashley Cole and John Terry. I live in Chelsea and train there too. I also underwent rehabilitation in Chelsea when I had my Achilles tendon injury.”