England batsman Kevin Pietersen has announced his retirement from all forms of international limited overs cricket with immediate effect.
The England and Wales Cricket Board made the announcement on Thursday, as the 31-year-old brings to an end an illustrious career in one-day matches.
Pietersen said: "After a great deal of thought and deliberation, I am today announcing my retirement from International One Day Cricket. With the intensity of the international schedule and the increasing demands on my body, approaching 32, I think it is the right time to step aside and let the next generation of players come through to gain experience for the ICC World Cup in 2015.
"I am immensely proud of my achievements in the One Day game, but still wish to be considered for selection for England in Test cricket.
"For the record, were the selection criteria not in place, I would have readily played for England in the upcoming ICC World Twenty20."
South African-born Pietersen played 127 ODI matches for England, averaging 42, and featured in 36 Twenty20 internationals, averaging 38.
He made his ODI bow versus Zimbabwe at Harare in November 2004, with his last game coming against Pakistan at Dubai in February this year, where he hit his best total of 130.