'Fittness camp for Indian cricketers begin sans Ganguly

Bangalore, Sept 29 (UNI) The week-long 'fittness targetted' camp for Indian test cricketers began here today in the absence of former captain Saurav Ganguly.

The camp being held ahead of the first test match against visiting Australia from October nine began despite the BCCI not announced either the list of probables or the squad for the four test series.

In all 13 senior players reported but Saurav Ganguly was absent which raised some questions. It was uncertain whether the 'Bengal Tiger' would join the camp anytime later. His absence comes in the wake of the BCCI not finalising the team and the southpaw's not so impressive performance in the recent past.

The former test captain last played against Australia at Adlaide in June this year.

Another notable obsentee was speedstar S Sreeshanth, who has not been included in the team for some time due to injury.

Other senior players including ODI vice captain Yuvraj Singh are playing against visitors in the practice match representing Board President's XI at Hyderabad.

Meanwhile the players who assembled at the National Cricket Academy here went through physical training, running and had some catch practice under the close watch of Coach Gary Kristen, Bowling Coach Venkatesh Prasad and conditioning coach Paddy Upton.

Those who attended the camp included, Sachin Tendulkar, Test Captain Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Md.

Kaif, Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir, M S Dhoni, Munaf Patel, R P Singh, Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan.

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