David Warner might need to be treated differently than Steve Smith, claims Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen stated that Australia opener David Warner does not have to be liked to be a part of the Australian team in order to play as a unit ahead of the upcoming 2019 ICC ODI World Cup. Warner and Smith will return to the senior team after completing year-long playing bans and will represent the Australian team in the World Cup and Ashes over the course of the year.

The left-handed batsman allegedly angered a number of teammates with his actions during the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town last year. Pietersen said that the members of the Australian squad will need to treat Warner differently.

"Did Gilchrist and Warne get on? Did Warney and 'Tugga' [Steve Waugh] get on? You don't need to get on in the dressing room, you don't need to be best mates. When you cross over that white line, somebody's bowling, you take all his catches. When you're the batter, you score runs.

"That's just the way it is, that's just the nature of the sport. Not everybody gets on, not everybody gets on in the business. Some of my friends ... are incredibly successful businessmen; there are people in organisations that they treat in a different manner. David Warner might just need to be treated a little differently to Steve Smith; he will probably just blend straight back in," Pietersen said on Sports Sunday.

Graeme Smith, also echoed Pietersen’s sentiments as he added that teammates don’t necessarily need to be friends as long as there exists mutual respect between both parties.

"I don't think it always needs to be happy families, as long as there's that mutual respect. You want to be able to pick your best 15 [man squad] going into a World Cup, and Steve Smith and David Warner probably cruise into your best 15. Ultimately, it will be Justin Langer's job and whoever's going to be captain [Aaron Finch] to manage that space and make sure everyone's ticking along," Smith added.