By IANS
Kolkata : The inclement weather notwithstanding, Team India’s two-day conditioning camp for the India Pakistan One-day series (ODI) will be held as scheduled at Eden Gardens from Friday, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) official announced here Thursday.
The camp at Eden Gardens became uncertain after the city experienced heavy rain Wednesday, causing water logging on the outfield.
Samar Pal, CAB joint secretary, said that he had a talk with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Niranjan Shah about the weather here and Shah had assured him that the camp would be held in Kolkata only.
Pal said that in case of more rain the camp would be held at the CAB indoor coaching centre adjacent to the ground and B.C. Roy Club House.
“All the arrangements for a conditioning camp exists there and the players would be able to hone their skill at the indoor centre as well,” he said.
“A senior player like Sourav Ganguly also expressed his satisfaction about the arrangements both at the ground and at the indoor centre,” Pal added.
After inspecting the ground with chief curator Kalyan Mitra Thursday, Pal said: “The pitch and the bowling line-up are well covered. Besides using of super sopper, the drainage system in the ground has improved considerably in a short time.”
Meanwhile, support staff for Team India, including manager Lalchand Rajput, bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh is arriving here Thursday.
The security arrangements for the players would be very strict as usual, Pal added.
Besides deploying extra security personnel, a bomb disposal squad and sniffer dogs would also be used to sanitise the ground before the camp starts.
Pal said that as wanted by team manager Rajput, the camp would begin at 2.30 p.m. on the opening day. The timing of the practice session on the concluding day would be decided once the players arrive here Friday.
Meanwhile the meteorological department has not ruled out more rain in the next few days.
“Though we do not predict heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours, we do not rule out sporadic showers in the city and later during the night (Thursday) or on Friday,” deputy director of Kolkata’s meteorological office L.R. Meena said.