Kaneria hits out at 'lifeless pitches' in India

Danish Kaneria, the Pakistan legspinner, criticised the lifeless pitches prepared by India in the recent Test series, and said they made contests less interesting.

"I am really disappointed at not having the success my team and countrymen were expecting of me, but the pitches used in India were of low bounce and did not give any support to the bowlers," Kaneria told AFP. Pakistan lost the three-match series 1-0 and managed to bowl out India on only two occasions.

Kaneria said the turning point of the series was Pakistan's failure to put up a fighting total in the second innings of the first Test in Delhi. After conceding a first-innings lead of 35, Pakistan mustered only 247 in their second innings, enabling India complete a six-wicket win. "Had we scored 300 runs, we would have won the first Test and from there on it would have been difficult for India to level the series."

"The pitches in the second Test at Kolkata and third at Bangalore were playing well even on the fifth day, which demoralised the bowlers," said Kaneria. Despite finishing as Pakistan's leading wicket-taker in the series with 12, he was disappointed he could not achieve his target of 20 wickets.

Pakistan's next assignment is a five-match ODI series at home against Zimbabwe, with the first match in Hyderabad on January 23.