Pietersen issue could have been been handled differently: Broad

London: Describing Kevin Pietersen's sacking by England and Wales Cricket Board as "unnecessary", paceman Stuart Broad has said that the issue could have been handled differently.

Pietersen, 34, was discarded by England in February last year after their 0-5 Ashes defeat last winter. Pietersen later went on to release a book in which he said there was "bullying culture" in the England dressing room.

"I just think the sacking became a media uproar. It just seemed a bit unnecessary when every other player gets dropped for poor form, don't they?" Broad told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme.

"It could have been handled very differently by everyone," Broad, 28, added.

Broad said it might have been better to drop Pietersen from the team rather than end the batsman's international career.