Ramiz Raja and Salim Malik were expected to arrive in the city late Friday evening while Ijaz Ahmad and Saqlain Mushtaq are in England. The 14th player in place of Shoaib Akhtar has not been named by the selectors as yet.
According to cricket manager, Haroon Rasheed, Shahid Nazir will attend the camp in which he will try to prove his fitness.
The national team coach added that he has requested the KCCA to make him available with a few more bowlers. ``That includes spinners and pacers. I want to give as much batting practice to my batsmen as possible.'' The opening day was also reduced to just two hours as there were only five batsmen viz Saeed Anwar, Inzamamul Haq, Hasan Raza, Shahid Afridi and Moin Khan, added Haroon Rasheed.
The camp started at 9:00 a.m. and concluded at 11:00 a.m.. However, Haroon said on Saturday there will be two sessions. The opening two-hour session will start at 7:30 a.m. in which physical training and fielding will be done while the cricketers will again assemble at 4:00 in the evening for three-hour nets.
The first day of the two-week camp was highlighted by the breaking of two willows of Saeed Anwar and Inzamamul Haq. Hard and sub-standard quality of the ball was cited the reason but Haroon played down the issue, saying: ``Bats are likely to break if you try to drive a yorker.'' The fielding session was also reduced because the hard balls were hurting the hands and there was a possibility of an unlikely injury. ``Yes, the balls were a bit harder but they were of the same quality as used in domestic cricket - the Grays ones - with English leather. ``Nevertheless, I would be recommending the PCB that it would be better if we get an improved version of the Grays balls,'' said Haroon. Haroon, on the fitness of players, said he was happy to see that the cricketers have done their home work. ``We trained strenuously for nearly 60 minutes and the players were still willing to go on. But since it was the first day, I didn't want that there was a complain of stiffness.'' On the selection of the Sahara Cup squad, Haroon said his views were sought before the team was finalised. ``Zaheer Abbas discussed with me the possible team and I am glad that whatever suggestions I gave, have been accepted.''
On the India team which will be without Venkatesh Prasad, Anil Kumble and Navjot Sidhu, Haroon said: ``Matches were not played against big names. They are played against a unit. Therefore, I am neither happy nor surprised. ``If we play to our full potential, we will win otherwise we can lose to an unfancied team as the West Indies lost to Kenya in the World Cup.''