Broad: KP will be welcomed back

Stuart Broad insists Kevin Pietersen will be accepted by the England dressing room upon his return.

Pietersen could yet participate in the forthcoming tour to India after agreeing a four-month central contract last week, subject to a 'reintegration process'. The 32-year-old was dropped by England after sending a series of provocative texts to opposition South African players during the Headingley Test.

But Broad said: "We pride ourselves on being a strong dressing room and I'm sure that if he came back for India or New Zealand, or whenever it is, that things will be fine within the team."

The breakdown in Pietersen's relationship with team-mates and his England and Wales Cricket Board employers plunged his international future into doubt. Broad views the destructive Pietersen as too important a player to be rejected by a team intent on reclaiming their position as the world's number one Test side.

"The team have no issues with KP coming back if the management decide he's ready to," Broad said.

"It's in their hands at the moment. There are some meetings going on behind closed doors and we're waiting to see the outcome of those.

"But from the team's perspective his integration will be easy. Ultimately we're playing cricket and we want guys who will score runs and take catches to help England win. Whatever's happened has happened."

Broad released a statement through the ECB in August denying any involvement in the parody Pietersen Twitter account, named KP Genius, that upset the Surrey batsman.

The 26-year-old continued: "I've not spoken to Kev since the Headingley Test match, but I'd have no problems playing with him or having a beer with him. It's not an issue. Once the England management have decided when he's available to return, he'll be welcomed back into the changing room.

"We know that when KP's focused on playing for England and he's happy, he's a really dangerous player."