Kevin Pietersen to say sorry and trigger an England recall
Kevin Pietersen's return to the England team could be confirmed within the next 48 hours.
The batsman is expected to make a fresh apology, starting a process that could see him added to the India tour squad.
Pietersen, 32, will say sorry for sending "provocative" text messages and commit himself to playing for England in all forms of cricket.
He has not played for England since being dropped for the final Test against South Africa in August.
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said: "It does appear that the first stage of Pietersen's reintroduction to the England camp will start sometime this week - and possibly as early as Tuesday.
"This will include an apology from the batsman for his conduct, and particularly for the text messages that were sent between him and the South African dressing room.
"We can also expect an assurance that England's commitments will come first - that is, after all, where all of this began and it remains the central issue.
"It will then be for the management and selectors to decide whether Pietersen will be a late addition to the team to tour India next month."
Pietersen had targeted a return to the national team for the tour of New Zealand in February.
But with England heading for a tricky tour to India in November, the batsman could be drafted in to boost an inexperienced batting line-up.
New Test and one-day captain Alastair Cook has been positive about Pietersen's return to the fold ever since taking over from Andrew Strauss.
But he leads a team to India that includes uncapped pair Joe Root, 21, and Nick Compton, who hit 1,191 runs for Somerset this season.
Discussions between Pietersen and the England and Wales Cricket Board have been ongoing since the second Test against Proteas at Headingley, when the Surrey man himself cast doubts on his future - a claim he later backtracked from.
Pietersen also apologised to former captain Strauss, who was allegedly criticised in the texts he sent to the South Africans - although he denied he offered any tactical advice.
England begin their four-Test winter tour of India on 15 November in Ahmedabad, with subsequent fixtures in Mumbai from 23 November and Kolkata from 5 December, before finishing in Nagpur for the final Test which starts on 13 December.
India v England Test series
15-19 November: 1st Test, Ahmedabad (Motera)
23-27 November: 2nd Test, Mumbai (Wankhede Stadium)
5-9 December: 3rd Test, Kolkata
13-17 December: 4th Test, Nagpur
Kevin Pietersen's return to the England team could be confirmed within the next 48 hours.
The batsman is expected to make a fresh apology, starting a process that could see him added to the India tour squad.
Pietersen, 32, will say sorry for sending "provocative" text messages and commit himself to playing for England in all forms of cricket.
He has not played for England since being dropped for the final Test against South Africa in August.
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said: "It does appear that the first stage of Pietersen's reintroduction to the England camp will start sometime this week - and possibly as early as Tuesday.
"This will include an apology from the batsman for his conduct, and particularly for the text messages that were sent between him and the South African dressing room.
"We can also expect an assurance that England's commitments will come first - that is, after all, where all of this began and it remains the central issue.
"It will then be for the management and selectors to decide whether Pietersen will be a late addition to the team to tour India next month."
Pietersen had targeted a return to the national team for the tour of New Zealand in February.
But with England heading for a tricky tour to India in November, the batsman could be drafted in to boost an inexperienced batting line-up.
New Test and one-day captain Alastair Cook has been positive about Pietersen's return to the fold ever since taking over from Andrew Strauss.
But he leads a team to India that includes uncapped pair Joe Root, 21, and Nick Compton, who hit 1,191 runs for Somerset this season.
Discussions between Pietersen and the England and Wales Cricket Board have been ongoing since the second Test against Proteas at Headingley, when the Surrey man himself cast doubts on his future - a claim he later backtracked from.
Pietersen also apologised to former captain Strauss, who was allegedly criticised in the texts he sent to the South Africans - although he denied he offered any tactical advice.
England begin their four-Test winter tour of India on 15 November in Ahmedabad, with subsequent fixtures in Mumbai from 23 November and Kolkata from 5 December, before finishing in Nagpur for the final Test which starts on 13 December.
India v England Test series
15-19 November: 1st Test, Ahmedabad (Motera)
23-27 November: 2nd Test, Mumbai (Wankhede Stadium)
5-9 December: 3rd Test, Kolkata
13-17 December: 4th Test, Nagpur
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