It's not all smooth sailing for the probables

It has not been smooth sailing for the Indian probables training hard in Chennai for the ICC knock out tournament in Nairobi to be held from October 3 to 15. First, they had scarcely practiced for a couple of days at the MRF Pace Foundation when heavy rain not only scuttled the day's session but also forced the players to shift their practice to the IIT ground, a few kilometres away. Then the camp was thrown out of gear on Sunday for a short while following a bomb scare.

According to Ashok Kumbhat, secretary, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, he received an anonymous phone call saying that a bomb had been placed at the MRF Pace Foundation premises. Kumbhat rang up TA Sekhar, chief coach at the Foundation and the police. A bomb squad rushed to the place, situated inside the Madras Christian College High School in Chetput in Central Madras. They checked up the place thoroughly before giving the all clear signal. The probables lost about an hour of valuable training time.

On Monday, the probables under the watchful care of coach Anshuman Gaekwad, shifted the training session to the IIT ground after doing their physical conditioning training at the gym and the pool at the MRF Pace Foundation. While the facilities at the Pace Foundation are second to none, the limited area of the playing field is a hindrance to the fielding practice and other fitness games that physio Andrew Leipus marks out for them. The IIT ground, sponsored by Chemplast, is a vast open area which affords freer movement by the players. The weather is not exactly conducive to practice. It's either very hot and sticky or it rains. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the probables are expected to play matches between themselves before the team is selected on September 21.