Kevin Pietersen wants Jofra Archer in England World Cup squad if he’s been fast-tracked for UK citizenship

England, hosts of the ICC World Cup 2019, are desperately trying to get West Indies-born bowling all-rounder Jofra Archer to play for them in the big event and there are even efforts to fast-track the cricketer’s British citizenship. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) opened the door for the 23-year-old to become an English cricketer in 2019.

Under the existing procedure to qualify, the Barbados-born Archer would have to wait till 2022 to become eligible to playing for England since he moved to the UK after turning 18. However, in November last year, the ECB announced that the residency requirements have been slashed to three years, which means Archer will be eligible this year itself.

Jofra Archer’s IPL performance

The fast bowler has been a sensation in the limited-over formats and especially in the T20s. He made an impressive debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year, claiming 15 scalps in 10 matches. This year, too, he has been going well with 10 scalps in eight matches so far for Rajasthan Royals. Overall in 89 T20s, Archer has picked 115 wickets so far at an average of 22.26. On Tuesday, he returned with a brilliant bowling figure of 3 for 15 against Kings XI Punjab even though his side lost the game.

Pietersen himself proceeded to play for England from South Africa

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen took to Archer’s case in a tweet on Wednesday asking whether the bowler was fast-tracked to become an England citizen and even compared his own case saying it took four years for him to do the same. Pietersen was born in South Africa but left his home country to play for England out of disappointment with the quota system.

Was @craig_arch fast tracked for England call up?
Took me 4yrs!

If so, He Has To Be Picked.

There isn’t a bowler in England who’s better than him with the white ball!

He’s a STAR!

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) April 17, 2019

Pietersen then went on to say that if Archer’s case has indeed been fast-tracked, he needed to be picked for the England squad for the upcoming WC. “There isn’t a bowler in England who’s better than him with the white ball!” Pietersen said about Archar, adding that the latter is a star.

Recently, another former England captain Nasser Hussain also backed Archer’s membership in the WC squad even though he conceded that it would pose threat to players like Liam Plunkett and others.

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