Kevin Pietersen calls for ‘scumbag’ trophy hunters to be ‘named and shamed’

[Ulquiorra]

FORMER England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen has called for the “scumbags” who shot a lion and then hung it up from a tree to be named and shamed on social media.

The 38-year-old who was born in South Africa posted a picture of two men with their arms around each other’s shoulders proudly standing next to a dead male lion that has hanging by one leg from a tree.

To the right of the photograph hangs a rifle fitted with a telescopic sight.

The once prolific batsman accompanied the photo with the message: “Can we name and shame these scumbags, Twitter?!?!

“RT to maybe find these clowns!”

After nearly a day his post has notched up 16,000 likes, been retweeted 15,000 times and attracted 1,300 comments.

In another post a few hours later he posted a black and white cartoon of a man pointing a rifle at a rhino while the rhino is saying: “Oh come on, really? Seven billion of you and just a few thousand of us and you still think we make a better aphrodisiac?”

That post has attracted 1,500 likes.

While some commentators attempted to defend the actions of the trophy hunters, the vast majority supported Pietersen.

Elizabeth Winton wrote: “Sickening. This is not sport, this is not acceptable and these people need to know this!”

Mark Waugh was also angered by the picture, saying: “I think if we can find these pathetic humans then just dump them in the middle of the jungle with no shotgun this time. Then that’s a fair fight.”

Charles Barber commented: “Together they are not worth one hair on that magnificent creature’s mane. They and their kind are a disgusting disgrace to humankind, I hope they get their just and deserved reward in this world or the next.”

One joker, attempting to inject some humour, thought they knew who the men were, saying: “That’s Ivor Smallc**k and his mate Tiny Balzac, sure of it.”

Pietersen was a prolific, if controversial batsman, who captained England’s Test and ODI sides from August 2008 to January 2009 but resigned over a dispute with coach Peter Moores.

Although he was one of England’s greatest ever batsmen, he had a turbulent relationship with the ECB and he last played for the national side in the 2013-14 Ashes series before being told he was no longer being considered for international selection.