Coach Andy Flower had to issue a statement earlier this month, denying a dressing-room rift after British media claimed he had threatened to quit if the South Africa-born batsman continued to be part of the team's rebuilding process.
Captain Alistair Cook has also ducked questions concerning Pietersen's test future but the 33-year-old's international career looks far from over after selectors opted to consider the use of his hard-hitting prowess in Bangladesh.
"The squad will be halved to a final 15-member party following the three match T20 series against Australia beginning on January 29," the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement.
Pietersen has been rested from England's limited overs series (five one-day internationals and three Twenty20s) in Australia.
Led by Stuart Broad, 2010 champions England will begin their quest for a second title with a March 22 match against New Zealand at Chittagong.
Squad: Stuart Broad (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Ravi Bopara, Scott Borthwick, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Michael Carberry, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Harry Gurney, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Craig Kieswetter, Michael Lumb, Eoin Morgan, Graham Onions, Steven Parry, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Boyd Rankin, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, James Tredwell, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Luke Wright.
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty; Editing by John O'Brien)
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