England [ Images ] batsman Kevin Pietersen [ Images ] has been ruled out of the Cricket World Cup with a hernia operation which needs immediate attention, he said on Twitter on Monday.

"Confirming the BREAKING NEWS mate: I fly home tonight. Out of the WC & IPL (Indian Premier League [ Images ])...Absolutely devastated!!," he posted.

The International Cricket Council [ Images ] (ICC [ Images ]) confirmed that the English cricket board had asked for a replacement but could not reveal who that was. The request was with the technical committee.

"...not a lot u can do about injuries mate!! onwards & upwards," Pietersen wrote.

"Sad to leave India... Love the people & the hospitality!! Alvida doston," he wrote, the last two words meaning "goodbye friends" in Hindi.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had issued a statement on Saturday that Pietersen, 30, was suffering from a hernia but that it would be "managed" by medical staff for the duration of the World Cup which finishes in Mumbai [ Images ] on April 2.

The ECB spokesmen and team officials had their phones switched off.

The England party were flying from Chennai, where they clinched a thrilling six-run victory over South Africa [ Images ] in Group B on Sunday, to Bangladesh for their next match against the co-hosts in Chittagong on Friday.

They were due to arrive at 1330 local time (0800 GMT) in Chittagong having left at 0700, a Bangladesh cricket official told Reuters.

Pietersen has been opening for England but has struggled so far to make a big impact in their four games, two wins, one defeat and a tie. On Sunday, he was out for two.