Counties may not release Indian players for camp

The English counties where the three Indians, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble are playing may not release them in time to attend the preparatory camp for the Asia Cup tournament. The camp is scheduled to start in Pune from May 14.

According to information available from Ganguly, the three counties are ready to release the players to play for the country in the Asia Cup. However, they are not ready to release them for the camp as that would prevent the club from utilising their services during some of the important matches. The dates of these matches clash with the period of the camp. The club authorities feel that if the players are released for the camp it would mean releasing them for more than three weeks a proposition which is unacceptable to them. Incidentally, Ganguly plays for Lancashire, Dravid for Kent and Kumble for Leceistershire.

In an interview to a Bengali daily in Calcutta, Ganguly has stated that he has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India regarding this new development. Ganguly has also stated that he will be arriving in India only on May 22. This means that he will miss the first eight days of the camp. With the team selection, slated for May 23, there is every possibility that he will miss the entire conditioning camp.

Meanwhile, the Indian captain attributed his poor batting form to the weather. "It is very cold and windy right now in England. As a result, the bowlers are holding the advantage over the batsmen. The situation will change in May when the sun will start shining. The wickets are also quite wet. As a result, at this time of the year, most of the matches are low scoring affairs."