London: Kevin Pietersen believes Alastair Cook's failure to back him after last winter's Ashes tour "called into question his qualifications to be captain" but admits the England skipper was "paralysed" by an "uncomfortable" situation.


England's Matt Prior (left) sniffs teammate Kevin Pietersen's bat during a 2011 World Cup training session at Chennai on March 4, 2011. Pic/AFP 

In his autobiography 'KP', Pietersen also blames England's demise on a "bullying" culture allowed to fester by Andy Flower and led by wicketkeeper Matt Prior, in which he and other teammates were repeatedly mocked and abused for making mistakes.