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Surrey in talks with Kevin Pietersen but no deal finalised

Kevin Pietersen of Surrey
Image: Kevin Pietersen: Left Surrey in October last year

Surrey have confirmed they are in discussions with Kevin Pietersen but say that no deal has been finalised.

Pietersen's Oval contract was cancelled in October last year, but he has previously told Sky Sports he would consider returning if there was a chance of reviving his England career.

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Kumar Sangakkara says he is looking forward to playing with Kevin Pietersen at Surrey.

No deal with any county has been announced, let alone any reconciliation with England, but Sky sources say the 34-year-old will appear in Surrey colours in 2015.

The county's new signing Kumar Sangakkara earlier appeared to let slip Pietersen's plans when he spoke to Sky Sports' Word Cup channel in the aftermath of his Sri Lanka's quarter-final exit.

He said: "I'm looking forward to playing at Surrey and working with (coach) Graham Ford, and KP's coming back I hear so that'll be very exciting in the dressing room.

"I reckon he (KP) will be fantastic anywhere he plays. He is just a magnificent player and he has been through some tough times.

"I'm sure that would have really shaped the way he is as a person and really had him thinking things through. I just think he's a great player and anyone would be happy with such a great player coming back into your side.

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"I'm sure he is looking forward to knocking on that (England) door and hopefully getting in."

That remains an unlikely outcome, judging by the comments of national selector James Whitaker, who spoke to Sky Sports News HQ as England announced their squad to tour the West Indies.

He said: "That's very much Kevin's decision and we respect that, but over the past 12 months we've been - I think - successfully rebuilding our Test team and over the past few days he wasn't party to any discussion. He's not part of our plans."

Sky Sports commentator Bob Willis said: "It's a bit of a surprise, but Kevin is keen to get back into the England Test match line-up and Colin Graves, the incoming chairman of the board (ECB), has said the only way Pietersen will ever play for England again is by scoring runs in county cricket.

"So for Pietersen to give up the chance of playing in the IPL - to play in the second division of the County Championship - is a major surprise, but he’s obviously desperate to play for England again."

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