'India will try to start with a bang' - Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar has said that it is important that India start their Asia Cup campaign "with a bang". The Press Trust of India reports that Tendulkar said, "India will try hard to start with a bang in the Asia Cup, beginning in Sri Lanka from July 16. It is a fresh season," at a press conference in Chennai.

Tendulkar acknowledged the role played by the training camp in Bangalore and looked forward to the next one in Chennai. "We had a nice and useful camp in Bangalore and we will take it forward to be focused in the limited-overs tournament in Sri Lanka. The weather condition in Sri Lanka is akin to what we have here [in Chennai]." The Indian team is scheduled to attend a training camp in Chennai from July 3 to 8.

Tendulkar described the list of probables selected for the one-day series in Sri Lanka in glowing terms. "The probables announced after the Bangalore camp are excellent and the team for the Asia Cup to be selected here will also be strong and excellent." He explained that several innovative exercises were conducted in the Bangalore coaching camp and that the each player had a specially tailored regimen to follow. "We were made to play kho-kho as this sport requires a lot of physical fitness"

When asked about the composition of fast bowlers in the Indian team Tendulkar was guarded. "It is the selectors' job but the team's combination would be decided on the kind of wickets that are prepared. Pitches in the Emerald Island are good. When we go there, we will get to know whether they will suit fast bowling or spin or batting."

Tendulkar also refused to be drawn into the debate of whether a specialist wicketkeeper should be used in the one-dayers also. "There is no point in holding a debate on this. Fifteen players will give different opinions. It is the selectors who are the best judges and I will leave it to them. It would not be prudent to sit here and make an assessment and plan things in respect of the composition of the team and specialist wicket-keeper."