South Africa might persuade Kevin Pietersen to play for them: Darren Gough

New Delhi: Former England speedster Darren Gough reckons South Africa might persuade discarded English batsman Kevin Pietersen to play for them in the future.

Speaking to talkSPORT’s Drivetime co-host, Gaugh said that since the maverick right-hander hasn't been treated well by the selectors, he could be tempted to play for the country where he was originally born.

“I think he will be tempted, given the way he has been treated, or the way he thinks he has been treated over the past few years,” Gough told said talkSPORT.

“He is not going to play county cricket this year unless somebody comes out of the blue and offers him a ridiculous fee. He definitely won’t play county cricket but he might play T20.

“He’s played out in South Africa this year and did brilliantly. They absolutely love him out there. All these people who think Graeme Smith hates him (are wrong), they are like best mates. He is quite high up in South African cricket. It wouldn’t surprise me if they tried to persuade him to play.”

Under ICC rules, once a player has represented a Test-playing country, he must wait for four years to re-qualify for another country. According to that rule, Pietersen would be 38 by the time he is eligible to play for South Africa and not many cricketers have managed to keep performing at that age.

KP, who was unceremoniously sacked by the England selectors in 2013, has failed to make a comeback in the team despite impressive performances in several T20 leagues across the globe.