Pollock hopes KP is unique case

Kevin has backed his decision with hard work and performances Pollock [R] on World XI team-mate Pietersen [L]

South Africa star Shaun Pollock hopes young cricketers do not abandon the country like Kevin Pietersen did.

Pollock teams up with England hero Pietersen in the World XI against Australia from Thursday.

But the two once played for the same KwaZulu-Natal team before Pietersen abandoned South Africa, disillusioned by the racial quota system.

Pollock said: "It's a bit worrying as we don't want to lose our talent, but it's an individual's choice."

Pietersen could not command a regular place for KwaZulu-Natal as a regular, and left to play for Nottinghamshire and then Hampshire.

In the process, he qualified to play for England through residency, making his Test debut in the sensational Ashes series.

By then he had already set the cricket world alight with some stunning batting for England in a one-day international series in South Africa at the start of the year.

Ali Bacher was unable to persuade Pietersen to stay in SA

Former South Africa captain Pollock, who leads the World one-day XI in three matches in Melbourne, added: "When Kevin was with us he used to bat down the order and bowl some quite good off-spin.

"We tried to keep him and set up a meeting with Ali Bacher [then head of the United Cricket Board of South Africa] to try to give him a bit of security.

"He was looking for a guarantee about his future but they couldn't give him one.

"If we knew how good he was going to be we would have done everything to try to hold onto him."

But Pollock is not bitter about Pietersen's decision to play for England and is glad to have him in his ranks for the big matches to come against Australia.

"Kevin has backed his decision with hard work and performances," said Pollock.

"I'd much rather have him on my side than the other."