Thursday 22 February 2018 15:15, UK
Kevin Pietersen has said the current Pakistan Super League will be his last appearance in a cricket tournament abroad.
The 37-year-old, who will turn out for Quetta Gladiators when the tournament begins in Dubai this week, has been playing white-ball cricket across the world since being exiled from the England fold in 2014.
South Africa-born Pietersen has played for Delhi Daredevils and Rising Pune Supergiant in the IPL, Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash, St Lucia Stars in the Caribbean and Sunfoil Dolphins in South Africa, as well as with Surrey.
Speaking on social media, Pietersen said he has grown tired of saying goodbye to his family and admits he has had his time.
"Countless goodbyes to Jessica and my kids as a cricket player, and this one this evening is the last one I'll ever have to do," he said.
"I've hated every goodbye but also known it's work so just gotten on with it. The journey has been absolutely amazing and for the next 3/4 weeks I'll be a current professional and then it's chapter closed.
"[I've] had my time and loved it but the endless goodbyes and travel needs to calm down now. Cricket has been the best."
Pietersen played 104 Tests for England, scoring 8,181 runs in 181 innings, including 23 hundreds and 35 half-centuries.
In ODI cricket he scored 4,440 runs including nine centuries and 25 fifties, and in Twenty20 for England he notched a further 1,176 runs including seven half-centuries.
Pietersen's time with the national side was brought to an end following a disastrous tour to Australia, but his position in the England dressing room came firmly in the spotlight after controversy over text messages he shared with South Africa players during the 2012 Test series.
