BCCI invites new applications for the post of women team’s head coach; Ramesh Powar to leave

The Indian cricket board has invited new applications for the post of the Indian women’s cricket team’s head coach, which makes it crystal clear that Ramesh Powar will not be retained.

“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would like to call upon interested candidates to apply for the position of ‘Head Coach – Team India (Senior Women)’,” BCCI has posted on its website reports The Hindustan Times.

Shortlisted candidates will be then called for an interview at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on December 20, said the report.

Powar’s contract, which ends on November 30, will thus not be extended beyond. The former Indian international was appointed in August, earlier this year, after former coach Tushar Arothe had vacated the post following her differences with the senior players over the training methods.

But despite enjoying a fair amount of success, Powar ends his three-month interim coach tenure with a feud against senior Indian batswoman Mithali Raj.

Also Read: Darkest day of my life: Mithali Raj reacts after Ramesh Powar’s report

Raj, India’s highest T20 run-scorer and woman’s national ODI captain, was controversially left out of the team for the semi-final against England, which India lost by eight-wickets. The selection gamble led to a huge outrage on social media with many blaming coach Powar and skipper Harmanpreet Singh for the defeat.

The 35-year-old cricketer, later in a scathing letter to the BCCI, accused Powar of insulting and misbehaving with her. Mithali also accused CoA member Diana Edulji of trying to use powerful position to destroy her career.

But not the one to hold back, Ramesh immediately responded with a letter to the Indian cricket governing body, where he accused Mithali of “blackmailing” and “abusing” the stuff for not allowing her to open the batting.

Also Read: Mithali Raj threatened to retire, threw tantrums, says coach Ramesh Powar