Pietersen was dropped after the second Test against the Proteas at Headingley following the revelation that he had allegedly sent derogatory text messages about his captain, Andrew Strauss, to SA players.

Collier suggested that the South Africans had plotted to remove Pietersen: "I think there was a tactic which was used. It is trying to undermine another team and another team ethic."

That infuriated SA captain Graeme Smith: "In the Proteas we pride ourselves on being a sporting and ethical team.

"We play hard but we play fair and any suggestions that we did this as a tactic are totally unwarranted and unnecessary."

SA Cricketers' Association chief executive Tony Irish said the players are angry.

"By his own admission Mr Collier never saw any text messages, or correspondence, and we know that Kevin himself has never suggested that he was provoked, so where is the evidence for this claim?

"Our players are awaiting an apology."

Pietersen is in SA to play for the Delhi Daredevils in the Champions League T20.