Pietersen was due to be rested

Kevin Pietersen would have been rested from the one-day series against Bangladesh even if a thigh strain hadn't ruled him out. Geoff Miller, the national selector, played down the seriousness of Pietersen's injury but said they had identified the next couple of weeks as a chance to give him a break.

Pietersen could only muster 95 runs in the five ODIs against Australia and finished with a duck at Lord's when he was bowled by Steven Smith having come in at No. 6 with a runner. It means he hasn't scored an ODI half-century since November 2008 - the unbeaten 111 he made against India at Cuttack in his last game as captain - a run that now stretches 17 innings.

"We would have rested him," Miller said. "We know what his qualities are. Everybody is concerned when a batter is not getting runs, similarly when a bowler is not getting wickets or not bowling well. But we know very well he is very capable of getting big runs, and they will be just round the corner.

"The situation is he has a niggle, which we are very wary about," Miller said. "I think it is a minor injury. But we are obviously wary, because there is a lot of cricket coming up over the rest of the summer and the winter as well," Miller added.

"I am sure he will be all right [for the Test series against Pakistan] but can't say that categorically at this stage. We are just being cautious. I think he will be all right in the very near future."

Pietersen's absence means Ian Bell is likely to get a chance at No. 3 against Bangladesh while his Warwickshire team-mate, Jonathan Trott, has been recalled after impressive county and England Lions form. Trott had been eased out of the one-day set-up in recent months although he averages 49.33 from his four ODIs after playing an important role in the victory against South Africa last November.

"Our policy is to find out about players - keeping one eye on the future, for the World Cup on the sub-continent in the new year," Miller said. "We want to win games at this moment in time but also keep an eye on what is happening later on."

Graeme Swann has also been given a well-deserved break and is replaced in the squad by Kent's James Tredwell who made his international debut on the tour of Bangladesh earlier this year and was part of the World Twenty20 squad without playing a match.