Karachi, Dec 17: Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has said that the lifeless pitches prepared by arch-rivals India was responsible for making the recently concluded Test series less interesting.

“The pitches used in India were of low bounce and did not give any support to the bowlers, ” Kaneria said in an interview.

India won the three-match series 1-0 on account of their six-wicket win in the first Test at Delhi — their first series win over Pakistan for 27 years. The second and third Tests ended as draws.

“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 who played a key role in Pakistan’s 1-1 finish in the 2005 Test series.

“Pitches in 2005 had bounce and turn, but this time the Indian plan was to blunt our bowling, ” said Kaneria, adding, “I had a target of 20-plus wickets in the series, which I could not achieve. ”

According to Kaneria, the turning point of the series was the tourists’ failure to put up a fighting total in the second innings in the first Test.

“It was to our credit that we bowled India out for a paltry 276 in the first innings at Delhi and, considering India’s strong batting line-up, it was a great success, ” said Kaneria.

“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, ” he added.