London: Exiled England batsman Kevin Pietersen on Thursday slammed the national selectors for their decision to drop experienced Ian Bell from the Test cricket squad, terming it as "pathetic".

Bell was a surprise omission from the squad for the forthcoming tour of South Africa starting on December 26. Bell, the eighth highest run-scorer in England's Test history, averaged just over 30 in the recent series with Pakistan, and has not scored a century since July last year.