CCFC ready for India conditioning camp: Prasun

Kolkata, Oct 23 (UNI) CAB president Prasun Mukherjee today said the Indian cricket team would get international standard facility at CC&FC ground during their two-day conditioning camp, casting aside the doubts over the inadequate facilities as complained by the England team when the venue was last chosen for any kind of international cricket practice.

Although the CCFC boasts of a well-maintained ground the world-class facilities, including a gymnasium and swimming pool, questions are being raised on the CAB's choice of the venue in the backdrop of the English team's complaints back in 2002.

In January that year, Duncan Fletcher's boys had come down to Kolkata for a day-night one-dayer.

The visiting team practised at the CCFC prior to that one-dayer, following which coach Fletcher called a press conference and aired his displeasure over the state of the wickets and nets at the club.

Capping all such controversies, Mukherjee today said, '' The ground is in excellent condition. The pitch is good and now we have newly built players' dressing room and swimming pool making the facilities adequate for any international match practice. '' '' I am a member of the club and will personally inspect the facilities before the practice session begins. I will also make sure that the reporters and photographers get better facility during the practice sessions, '' he added.

The Indian squad will undergo a two-day camp in Kolkata from November 2 in preparation for the home series against Pakistan, which includes five ODIs and three Tests.

The reason why the camp would be held at the Calcutta Cricket and Football Cricket (CC&FC) and not Eden Gardens, was because the stadium will be hosting the Ranji Trophy Super League match between Bengal and Hyderabadfrom November 3.

'' We have a Ranji match scheduled at the Eden Gardens so the CC&FC has been chosen, '' he said.

The CCFC hosted the Indian team prior to the 1996 World Cup, and more recently, the England squad, which held a week-long camp in 2002.

The Indian team will arrive for the proposed camp on November one night and will begin practice next day. The conditioning camp will be held in the mornings only for lack of floodlit facilities at the CC&FC.

The Indian squad will then leave for Guwahati on November 4, a day ahead ahead of the first ODI.

The Indian players would leave for Guwahati on November 4 for the first ODI at Guwahati on November 5. The other games will be held in Mohali (November 8), Kanpur (November 11), Gwalior (November 15) and Jaipur (November 18) followed by a three-Test series.

Talking about the lease of Eden Gardens, Mukherjee said, '' The modalities are being worked out. It would not be a deterrent for holding any matches. We have demanded a lot more things that which were previously sanctioned, including a lease of 30 years, instead of 15. So it is taking a little more time to work things out. '' '' However, everything would be in order soon, '' he said.

About the newly laid test wicket, he said, '' The wicket looks good. But we could have a friendly if the curator suggested before the India-Pakistan match that begins in the last week of November. '' UNI