``I am not certain about playing in Toronto,'' he said today. Sachin is seriously contemplating the long-term effects of the back ailment that has been afflicting him since the past six months.

``I don't want to degrade any tournament but I have to think about playing on a long-term basis. I don't want to hang around deciding before each game if I'll be playing or not.'' The Indian captain is not at all comfortable with the humid weather prevailing here, which according to him is similar to that in Chennai, where his back troubles began.

``If you are destined to get injured, you can't change that. It is disappointing but you have to deal with it,'' he mused philosophically.Commenting on India's chances here, he felt it was important to show all-roundimprovement. ``I wouldn't like to blame the bowling, our fielding too has been bad.'' He pointed out that the team's training should be channelised towards coming good in crunch situations.

``The format of the tournament doesn't leave any chance to make a comeback. Saturday's match is important and so is the one after that,'' he said. The fitness of the team continued to be a cause of concern for the management. Coach Anshuman Gaekwad, admitting that the team ``looked out of touch in Sri Lanka'', felt a full-fledged conditioning camp would have been ideal for the hectic schedule. Gaekwad added, ``the team badly needs a trainer and we have conveyed this to the Board. Hopefully, we should get somebody soon.''

He disclosed that a couple of trainers from South Africa and Australia had expressed their willingness to take up the job. ``It is for the Board to decide now,'' he added.

Commenting on former physio Andrew Kokinos, Gaekwad said ``somebody more senior would have made a big difference.''

Meanwhile,the selectors' decision to announce the team for Toronto in the midst of a tournament hasn't been well received by the team management, which wasn't taken into confidence.

``It is very difficult for the boys who have been dropped. If they can withstand it and come out with good performances here it would be an exhibition of their mental toughness,'' he reasoned. Gaekwad, however, felt that such decisions would not affect the composition of the team for the present assignment. ``We are more concerned about the event here. Toronto is still far away.''