LONDON, Jan 12: Kevin Pietersen first threatened to resign as England captain in India before Christmas, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) vice-chairman Dennis Amiss has said.

The South African-born batsman quit last week after

just three Tests in charge, claiming he couldn’t work alongside coach Peter Moores who was sacked as a result of the row.

Amiss told BBC Radio Five on Sunday that Pietersen had initially offered his resignation as captain after last month’s drawn second Test against India in Mohali, a result which meant England lost the two-match series 1-0.

“He mentioned resigning the captaincy in our discussions with him but we wanted him to go away and think about it while he was in South Africa [on holiday],” ex-England batsman Amiss said. “We said, ‘Go away and think about it and we will resolve the situation as quickly as we can’.”

Pietersen, 28, told the News of the World on Sunday that several England players, including new skipper Andrew Strauss and ex-captain Andrew Flintoff, had urged him not to resign the captaincy while on tour in India.

“I confided in Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison, as well as two other senior players, Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood, about my meetings with the manage-

ment over the coach,” Pietersen said.

“They all — 100 per cent, I promise you categorically — said to me: ‘Do not leave as England captain’.”

While the dust is yet to settle on their bitter fallout, Pietersen said on Monday that former coach Peter Moores is a “fantastic guy” and he does not have any personal problem with the sacked coach.

Pietersen admitted he and Moores made an odd couple but insisted he didn’t have any personal issue with him. “He’s a fantastic guy,” Pietersen said. “I’ve heard a comment of his where he says he wants England to win and he does want England to win. He’s passionate about winning.

“I have absolutely no personal problem with Peter Moores, I just didn’t feel that me and him could take the team forward,” Pietersen said.

Soon after he relinquished captaincy, speculation was rife that Pietersen might turn his back on England and take the plunge in the cash-rich Indian Premier League.

The South Africa-born cricketer said such a thought never crossed his mind.

“I never, ever once thought that I’m going to leave England and I’ve been betrayed and I’m angry towards anybody at all,” he said.

“I just thought, okay, I’m gonna have to become a soldier again and go back and do batting, which I absolutely love,” added the maverick batsman.

—Agencies