Motivational sessions part of agenda for Bangalore camp

If the Indian team fails to perform to expectations this season, it certainly won't be due to lack of effort and planning by the BCCI. Not only has the Indian board arranged for pre-season training camps to get the players physically in shape, it has, according to a report in the Indian Express, also arranged for the probables to interact with leading personalities from diverse fields to help the players' all-round development.

Among the guests invited by the board are NR Narayanmurthy, chief of the highly successful software firm Infosys, who will speak to the players on ways to sustain success. Prannoy Roy, a leading television personality in India, will deal with various aspects of dealing with the media, while badminton ace Prakash Padukone and billiards star Geet Sethi will delve into issues related to the conduct of international sportsmen. BKS Iyengar, a Pune-based yoga expert, will also hold sessions with the cricketers. The report even mentions a plan to rope in a war hero to deliver a pep talk to the players. All these visitors will speak to the cricketers during their six-day camp in Bangalore, which starts today.

The talks are being coordinated by Amrit Mathur, the BCCI's media manager. Speaking to the newspaper, he said: "We first looked at our players' necessity and the areas which they needed to develop. After that we got the best in business." He added that the idea had been in the pipeline for a long time. "We didn't have the right opportunity to get everyone on one stage. Since this was the start of a new season, we thought it fit to start from right here."