PTI

Kolkata, Nov 2 (MB): The Indian cricketers will have to be content with an indoor tune-up session on the opening day of the two-day camp beginning on Friday, with the city experiencing nagging rain for the last two days.

The action would now shift to the well-equipped Pankaj Gupta indoor cricket coaching centre housed in the Eden Gardens, according to Cricket Association of Bengal Joint Secretary Samar Pal.

The indoor facility has three nets, besides a swimming pool and a modern gymnasium.

"The ground is wet. The conditions are not suitable for outdoor practice," Pal told PTI.

The metropolis, which has been recieving light to heavy shower since Wednesday afternoon, experienced nagging overnight rain that stretched up to this morning.

"We used two super soppers continuously to dry the ground. But two hours of rain this morning put paid to our effort," Pal said while claiming there was no water accumulation on the ground.

Meanwhile, the cricketers have started arriving in batches for the crucial camp ahead of the upcoming series against Pakistan.

Fielding coach Robin Singh and pacer S Sreesanth were the early birds. Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar and skipper M S Dhoni reached the city in a Mumbai flight this morning and were escorted under heavy security cover to the team hotel in the southern part of the city.

Harbhajan Singh also reached the city on a flight from Delhi.

India play the first of the five one-day matches against Pakistan in Guwahati on November 5.