KEVIN PIETERSEN is set to make his one-day international debut in Zimbabwe next month - but is "disappointed" to miss the winter's major tour to South Africa.

Natal-born Pietersen was called up for the one-day tours to Namibia and Zimbabwe as he is qualified to play for England from tomorrow.

But he was overlooked for the trip to his homeland in December/January as the selectors feared an adverse reaction to his return.

Pietersen has waited four years to become qualified for England through his English-born mother Penny after becoming disillusioned by the South African quota system of having at least three coloured players in each domestic team.

It is a system designed to accelerate the development of South Africa's indigenous population but it also restricted opportunities for emerging white players like Pietersen and he accepted Nottinghamshire's invitation in 2001 to qualify as a British passport holder.

The 24-year-old said: "I was disappointed not to go to South Africa because I've scored runs for four years now. I haven't had a chat with any of the selectors to find out why I wasn't but I've heard they didn't want to take me back to South Africa with all the other pressures, which I fully understand.

"I don't think I'd have a good response if I went.

"There's a rugby union player called Clyde Rathbone who plays on the wing for Australia but used to play for South Africa under-19s and captained South Africa under-21s a few years ago.

"He went back to Durban where he's from to play in the Tri-Nations final and he was booed when he ran onto the field and every time he touched the ball.

"They absolutely nailed him so maybe it's a good decision that I'm not going back in terms of all the extra pressures instead of just concentrating on my cricket."

Pietersen has not even been back to see his family in Durban for the last couple of years, although he is planning a return trip after his commitments in Zimbabwe this winter. But when he does return he hopes to be a fully-fledged England player.

He added: "I hope the blokes in the England dressing room would be supportive of me because I get on well with most of them. If I'd been chucked in two or three years ago then they might have thought I was this South African coming over taking their places, but by being selected now I think I would have been in on merit.

"There was a lot of talk last year when I wanted to move counties and David Lloyd said on Sky TV that my next move should be to Western Province in Cape Town.

"I laughed at that and that was after three years in England, but people are now seeing how committed I actually am to the country - I've done more than 210 days in this country every year so that shows how committed I am.

"You are brought up to be loyal to the country you are in, but I've never been totally patriotic to South Africa. It is a case of how I was brought up at home. My mum ruled the roost and she is English through-and-through. Dad is an Afrikaner but he doesn't speak Afrikaans at home.

"If England go to South Africa and win, I'll be a happy boy."