Pietersen shocked, disappointed by hoax bid on Queensland flood fundraiser

BRISBANE - England middle-order batsman Kevin Pietersen has expressed both shock and disappointment over a cruel hoax that foiled his attempt to help flood victims in Queensland.

Pietersen had offered his Ashes kit plus airfares, accommodation and tickets to Sunday’s 50-over match against Australia in Perth in an online auction that was knocked down for 51,000 dollars.

But the bid was traced to an Afghanistan man who knew nothing about it and claimed his email address must have been stolen, Fox Sports reports.

Pietersen’s agent has been sifting through lower bids to try and clinch a deal but nothing has materialized.

“I am reliant on somebody coming forward and potentially offering the money to do it. I could only do what I’ve done, I haven’t done absolutely anything to warrant this kind of thing. It’s really, really disappointing,” Pietersen was quoted, as saying.

He added: “It was 51,000 Aussie dollars, incredible, absolutely incredible. Can it be locked in for Perth? I hope so. But that’s next week. If it can’t, it will just have to be the bat and the shirt. The opportunity to come to Australia is gone.”

Pietersen played in Sunday’s 50-over game against Australia at the Gabba, a designated flood relief match that raised a million dollars for the cause from ticket sales, raffles, run sponsorships and other donations. (ANI)