Kevin Pietersen would be tempted to represent South Africa at international level if his England exile continues, believes Darren Gough.

Pietersen has not played for England since the fifth Ashes test on January 3, 2014 before being sacked and told on numerous occasions the door is closed on his international career.

However, under ICC rules, once a player has represented a test-playing country, he must wait four years to re-qualify for another side.

That would leave the 35-year-old Pietersen to free to represent the country of his birth in under two years’ time and Gough believes he would consider it.

“I think he will be tempted, given the way he has been treated, or the way he thinks he has been treated over the past few years,” said talkSPORT’s Drivetime co-host.

“He is not going to play county cricket this year unless somebody comes out of the blue and offers him a ridiculous fee. He definitely won’t play county cricket but he might play T20.

“He’s played out in South Africa this year and did brilliantly. They absolutely love him out there. All these people who think Graeme Smith hates him (are wrong), they are like best mates. He is quite high up in South African cricket. It wouldn’t surprise me if they tried to persuade him to play.”