Kevin Pietersen is seeking a swift return to England duty after yesterday agreeing a central contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board, initially for four months.
The batsman had not been offered a new deal due to a furore regarding text messages he sent during a Test series with South Africa.
His return to international duty is still dependent on a "reintegration process" following the breakdown in relations with Andy Flower, the England team manager, team-mates and his employers. However, Pietersen is confident he can earn a reprieve in time to meet up with the squad for the Test tour of India, who depart on October 25.
Yesterday, Pietersen sat alongside ECB chairman Giles Clarke and apologised to all parties for the "horrible" situation which has prevailed for the past two months. He made his intention clear to play his part in his own rehabilitation, which will be overseen by Flower and a professional mediator, if the team manager sees fit.
The timetable for that process extends until the end of this year. If it is to be completed so that Pietersen can be added to the squad to leave for India – via a training camp in Dubai – progress must be made quickly. Pietersen is required to see out his role as a broadcast pundit at the World Twenty20 – the final is on Sunday, in Colombo – before flying to South Africa to play for the Delhi Daredevils in the Champions League. However, the batsman is confident he can meet the deadline for the squad announcement.
"I want to play for England as soon as I can," said Pietersen, who was born in South Africa. "The process has started really well and I believe, all being well, I'll be back in an England shirt as soon as possible. We're all human beings; we all make mistakes. I've apologised for them."
Clarke took great care to spell out the values and ethics by which the ECB operate, and expect their employees to uphold. "In our society, we believe that if an individual transgresses – and the individual concerned recognises that and apologises for what they may have caused to those involved – then it is important, and a fabric of our society, that that individual should be given a real opportunity to be reintegrated into our society," he said.
"This principle is an essential part of having civilised and sensible ethics. Kevin has apologised."
Pietersen had ceded already to the ECB's stipulation that he apologise specifically to former Test captain Andrew Strauss, who was in charge of the England team for the Test series against South Africa. "I'd just like to take this opportunity to apologise to my team-mates, all England supporters and the ECB for the situation that has arisen over the last couple of months," added Pietersen.
"It's been a horrible situation for all involved. But thankfully we have drawn a line under it. Playing cricket for England is the pinnacle of any cricketer's career, and I want an opportunity to do that again as soon as possible.
"Some of the proudest and best moments of my life have been in an England shirt, and I want them to continue for as long as possible. I'm entirely committed to completing the re-integration process we have agreed - and resuming my England career in all formats, I hope, until the World Cup in 2015 – as long as my body allows."
Clarke was more succinct regarding the future of the batsman. "I'm here as chairman of the board to make it clear to you all that the board are unanimous in supporting this process," he said.
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