CHESTER-LE-STREET, Sept 7: England Twenty20 captain Stuart Broad has insisted the absence of Kevin Pietersen will not overshadow the upcoming series with South Africa and the defence of their World Twenty20 title in Sri Lanka.

Pietersen remains in international exile as the row over the “provocative texts” he sent to South African players, some allegedly critical of England team-mates rumbles on.

The South Africa-born batsman, England’s man of the tournament when they won the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean two years ago, did announce his limited overs retirement earlier this season but then changed his mind and made himself available for all formats again.

However, Pietersen’s replacement, Alex Hales made 99 from 68 balls against the West Indies in Nottingham during Engand’s last Twenty20 match, in Nottingham in June.

England now face South Africa in three Twenty20s, starting at Chester-le-Street, the home of north-east county Durham, on Saturday.

Broad told Sky Sports News on Friday: “The planning started, for these (Twenty20) games and the (Twenty20) World Cup, from Trent Bridge.

“KP (Pietersen) had made himself unavailable for the World Cup and his replacement came in and got the highest score for an English batsman.

“The planning had already been set in place, Alex Hales came in and did very well and that’s what we’ve been focusing on.

“We’ve got a great squad here and we’re really excited about the next month,” the all-rounder added. —AFP