Cook is still captain because of ECB politics: Pietersen

Alastair Cook has managed to hold onto England captaincy solely because of 'politics', says batsman Pietersen and insists that the disaster which the skipper is enduring in the series against India is something that he would not wish even for his worst enemy.

Alastair Cook has managed to hold onto England captaincy solely because of "politics", says maverick batsman Kevin Pietersen and insists that the disaster which the skipper is enduring in the series against India is something that he would not wish even for his worst enemy.

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"At the moment only politics are keeping Cook in a job because the England and Wales Cricket Board backed him so much that it would be yet another PR disaster if it sacked him now," Pietersen wrote in 'The Daily Telegraph'.

"But the ECB needs his runs back more than anything else so a big decision has to be made. Forget the bad headlines for once," he said.

Pietersen said he empathises with Cook, whose poor form with the bat is being seen as a major reason for England's Test decline. The English are currently trailing India 0-1 after losing the second Test at Lord's in the five-match series.

"Alastair Cook is enduring an experience I would not wish on my worst enemy. He will not be able to sleep at night and when he eventually drifts off and wakes up in the morning the last and first things going through his mind will be worries over his career and his job," said Pietersen.

Interestingly, Pietersen reportedly did not share a very cordial equation with Cook in the dressing room. The swashbuckling batsman was sacked as an England player earlier this year due to his tense relationship with teammates and other disciplinary issues.