England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Paul Downton has denied that he has been contacted by Kevin Pietersen to discuss a potential return to the national team . Pietersen has become optimistic his England career could yet be revived and reports on Tuesday claimed that the 34-year-old had held conversations with intermediaries acting for the ECB . 'He has n't asked me for a meeting , ' said Downton . 'As far as the ECB is concerned no position has changed . We put out a statement last week . ' Reports suggested that England outcast Kevin Pietersen had contacted the ECB over a return . Pietersen has not ruled out an England return after comments made by incoming chairman Colin Graves . Downton was one of the key figures in casting Pietersen out of the England set-up following last year 's 5-0 Ashes whitewash and when asked if he would consider a meeting with the South Africa-born batman , he added : ' I do n't know what to say to that to be honest . 'It 's not something that is at the forefront of the selectors ' minds now . We 've got a group of players that we are working with and looking to progress the England team . 'Nothing has changed from where we were in the last year . ' Incoming ECB chairman Colin Graves kick-started Pietersen 's hopes of a return a fortnight ago when he suggested he should play county cricket if he was serious about playing for England again . The ECB released a statement later that day to clarify Graves ' comments which said 'nothing had changed ' regarding Pietersen 's England future . England were embarrassingly knocked out of the World Cup in the group stages after defeat by Bangladesh . The South African-born batsman was axed by England following the 2014 Ashes whitewash . Paul Downtown insists 'nothing has changed ' Pietersen has nonetheless been impressed by Graves and on Tuesday morning backed the 67-year-old entrepreneur to make the changes to revitalise England in the wake of their early World Cup exit . Pietersen alluded to a recent relaxation in ECB policy to allow players to be available for the entire Indian Premier League as a positive step and that he suspected it was the start of a progressive period under Graves . Pietersen posted on Twitter : 'Quick note - ECB does n't decide who gets to play in IPL/Big Bash . The franchises have to want them ! Plenty have tried & failed to get a go ! 'But , the encouraging news is that the new boss has the vision to look to open up a window to hopefully give players a better chance ! ' I really do think changes are going to be made & positive things are going to start to happen for the good of English cricket ... ' England 's World Cup embarrassment has given ammunition to those who believe it was a mistake to axe Pietersen and while Graves ' comments have forced the ECB to reinforce their stance on a player who left Surrey last autumn , Downton said it has not caused him any discomfort . 'What Colin said was absolutely right , ' he said . 'To be picked for England you have to be scoring an awful amount of runs in county cricket and you have to be perceived by the selectors as a positive influence on the side . 'Nothing has changed . '
Reports claimed Kevin Pietersen contacted the ECB over England return . Paul Downtown has denied any conversation , saying nothing has changed . England were eliminated at the group stage of World Cup .