"If we prepare wickets like this we will lose the crowds that came for the previous series against England," Inzamam said after murky weather and the batting-friendly wicket forced the Test to be drawn.

India reached 410-1 in reply to Pakistan's mammoth first innings total of 679-7 declared before play was called off after just 2.2 overs on the fifth and final day.

Indian openers Virender Sehwag (254) and Rahul Dravid (128 not out) failed to compile a world record opening partnership by just four runs after Sehwag was caught behind off seamer Rana Naved.

Inzamam said he had always been in favour of sporting pitches.

"Wickets like the one at the Gaddafi stadium here are demoralising for the bowlers and captains find it hard to stop the flow of runs.

"But since everyone has asked me about the pitch I must make it clear that I am the captain and not the groundsman," the Pakistan skipper said.

"The lead-up to the Test was affected by bad weather so it may not have been easy to make a good wicket. Hopefully we have a better Test at Faisalabad and get a better wicket too."

The second Test starts at Faisalabad on Saturday. The third and final Test will be played in Karachi from January 29-February 2.

Indian captain Dravid chose to play down his criticism of the wicket, but indicated he too was not happy with what was on offer.

"I would not blame the groundsman or anyone for the pitch, but this obviously was not a pitch on which bowlers would like to bowl on," he said.

"It is easy to criticise the pitch, the groundsman and other things, but not many people know about the art of making a wicket and it is not for us to ask what kind of pitches the hosts are preparing."

Dravid said India gained a lot of confidence from the drawn Test.

"I do not believe in any team having the psychological edge or the momentum, but I can say that we have gained a lot of confidence going into the second Test," he said.

The Indian captain, who preferred to open the innings with Sehwag in place of his predecessor Sourav Ganguly, also made light of the failure to break the world record.

"To get to 410 was special and it was special to be close to that record," he said.

"Sehwag was a bit disappointed. We could have got there and had it come it would have been nice."

Dravid said it was great to "have the best seat in the house" when Sehwag was batting.

"He was doing all the scoring, I was just hanging in there," he said. "It is amazing how he hit the good balls to the fence when I may have just defended them."

The Dravid-Sehwag stand is the second best for the first wicket, only behind the 413 by fellow countrymen Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy against New Zealand at Madras in 1955-56.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)