Explosive England batsman Kevin Pietersen said T20, with its money power will soon replace ODI's.

''I do think Twenty20 will be the new form of One-day cricket, for sure,'' Pietersen said in a television interview yesterday on the eve of England's ODI series against New Zealand.

''I reckon in the next couple of years, 50 overs is probably going to be something of the past.''
Pietersen believed T20 will is gaining in popularity with commentators and international cricketers entirely enchanted by its magic.

KP, as Pieterson is called by his teammates feels the standard one-day game now lasts between seven and eight hours, with the World Cup taking it to a crescendo every four years. The shorter and faster T20 was gaining in popularity.

However, the middle order batsman thinks ODI's will still be around for some time to come but T20 was catching up rather fast with its sheer money power.

''I don't think the 50-over game has had its day yet,'' he said.

''But I think in terms of everything going on now with Twenty20, the financial rewards the players get, and the tournaments coming up and the interest created and the audience it grabs, then maybe so in a couple of years. Not right now _ but in a couple of years.

''What Twenty20 will do is speed up all parts of cricket because guys are going out there to entertain, to score a lot quicker.''

He said Texan billionaire Allen Stanford's move to launch a 20 million winner-take-all Twenty20 match between England and a West Indies XI, to be played every November for five years, would popularise cricket in England and open up new markets for the game across the globe.

''It is one of those situations where Twenty20 could filter into America. I see Allen Stanford has mentioned that as well and I believe that can happen.''

''It is positive for cricket. It is getting front and back-page coverage in the papers. The last time we saw that was when we won that amazing series against Australia three years ago,'' he said.

KP is very clear his loyalties would always lie with Test cricket despite the attractive remuneration T20 has brought with itself. And given a choice between playing in the IPL and turning up for Stanford, he would rather opt for the Indian venture.

''Will the Stanford deal make it more or less likely I will go to the IPL? That Stanford game, I see it as an absolute bonus for an England player,'' he said.

''It will be a great occasion but it is a one-off fixture this year and if we lose, we come home with a tour fee.

''In contrast, the IPL money is guaranteed in terms of what you do. The Stanford game we will treat with as high a regard as we can but, if we walk away having lost, then we can say it was just a bonus because he could have chosen anybody.''