'Unavailable' Sachin misses fitness camp

Coach Gary Kirsten, who oversaw the fitness camp at the Mumbai Cricket Association’s Indoor Academy in Bandra-Kurla Complex, said it was not possible to get all the players available for the camp at a short notice.

“Sachin was unavailable today. It was not possible to get everyone available at such a short notice. Sachin would do the test in the next few days,” Kirsten said.

The eight players who took part in the fitness camp conducted by Indian team physiotherapist Nitin Patel and trainer Ramji Srinivasan, who is tipped to soon join the national squad, were Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Dinesh Karthick, Pragyan Ojha, Abhishek Nayar, Ravindra Jadeja and S Badrinath.

Kirsten said it was good to be with the players for two days. On Monday a fitness camp was held in Delhi for eight others, including India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

“It’s been a good two days with the purpose to meet up with the guys while they have been having time off. We had decided in the West Indies to get together. There were a fair amount of niggle after the West Indies tour (that ended on July 5). Now everyone is good,” Kirsten said. The Indian coach said there would be another camp for the players at the end of this month in Bangalore.

“This is the first one and we have a camp at the end of the month in Bangalore,” he said.

The former South Africa opener said that Virender Sehwag, who is recovering from a shoulder operation, would do the fitness test at the NCA in Bangalore and he was happy with his progress.

“Sehwag is undergoing rehab these days. He will do the test at the NCA and we are happy with the way he is progressing,” he said. Kirsten sounded happy that the cricketers were responding well to the rigours of the camp after a break.

“This is the beginning of a process that we need to work. Guys have responded very well and are in good condition,” he said, adding the camp was mainly for those who toured the West Indies.