The ongoing fiasco between veteran Indian batswoman Mithali Raj and Indian women’s team coach Ramesh Powar is getting uglier with every passing day. After blame game between the two individuals involved, it has been learnt that Powar is unlikely to get an extension as the coach of Harmanpreet Kaur-led side as top BCCI officials are reportedly unhappy with the ongoing episode which has deeply affected the morale of the team.
His contract with the BCCI ends on Friday (November 30) and the decision not to continue with him comes after Mithali’s serious accusations against him of trying to ‘destroy her game,’ and humiliating her during the tournament in the Carribean.
“Powar’s conflict with Mithali has ensured that he can’t continue as the coach of India,” a source was quoted as saying by TOI. The report suggests that Powar got a call from an ‘influential’ BCCI official on whose order he dropped Mithali without even consulting with the player once. The 35-year-old was in fine form in the tournament and had socred to back to back half-centuries before being axed from the playing XI for India’s last group game against Australia followed by exclusion from the playing XI in the crucial semifinal encounter.
Mithali was adjudged as the Man of the Match in both the games but despite that she was dropped from the playing XI which baffled many. The report also adds that Powar had no communication with Mithali before dropping her from the crucial game.
“Powar should have spoken to Mithali instead of dropping her straightaway after a phone call from Mumbai on the day of the match. This isn’t cricket,” TOI quoted a BCCI source as saying. However, Powar still has the backing of CoA member Diana Edulji.
