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Curtains up on coaching camp

The 15-day preparatory camp, the first for the 22 probables forming the composition for India's build up to the 1999 World Cup in England, is all set to begin in Chennai on Friday.

Former Australian opening batsman and Captain Bobby Simpson, who has been appointed as "consultant", arrived in Chennai last night, and has been closetted with India's national coach Anshuman Gaekwad in a five star hotel finalising arrangements for the camp.

The 22 probables will stay in the city till September 4, when the camp concludes with the announcement of the Indian team for the Sahara Cup and the Commonwealth Games.

Sachin Tendulkar, who arrived in Madras early on Thursday, will however miss the camp for a week as he flies to Australia to attend cricket legend Don Bradman's 90th birthday celebrations, and later receives the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in New Delhi.

The other members of the team, including captain Mohammed Azharuddin, will reach Chennai late on Thursday evening.

Simpson and Gaekwad are understood to have some differences over the number of sessions. While Simpson suggested two sessions, Gaekwad was for one long session from dawn till afternoon.

The camp will formally begin at 0800 hours on Friday at the M A Chidambaram Stadium. Facilities at the MRF Pace Foundation might also be used, according to the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.