Former India off-spinner Ramesh Powar has been appointed as Mumbai team’s coach for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scheduled to begin from February 20. Mumbai Cricket Association secretary Sanjay Naik confirmed the development to news agency PTI on Tuesday.
Powar got the charge after former domestic cricketer Amit Pagnis, who was initially appointed as Mumbai coach, quit from his position following the team's dismal show in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
The 42-year-old Powar, who has played two Tests and 31 ODIs for India, was the former head coach of the national women’s team. He also has enough coaching experience on his CV, including stints at the Bengaluru-based National Cricket Academy.
“I’m thankful to the CIC (Cricket Improvement Committee) and MCA for trusting my coaching abilities and I am looking forward to the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
“I am looking forward to creating a healthy, positive environment. We will look to play positive brand of cricket,” Powar told news agency PTI after his appointment.
The Mumbai team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy will be picked on Wednesday and India batsman Shreyas Iyer, who had missed the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy due to an injury, is available for selection, a MCA source said.
In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the domestic 50-over tournament, Mumbai is placed in Elite Group D alongside Delhi, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Pondicherry. Mumbai’s matches will be played in Jaipur.
Back in 2018, Mithali Raj had accused coach Ramesh Powar of discrimination and bias in a letter addressed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Raj has also alleged that Powar humiliated her during the World T20 in West Indies.
Raj, in the letter, also said she was hurt and baffled when she was left out of the Indian team for the World T20 semi-final.
".... I would also like to point out that I have nothing against the T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur except for the fact that her call to support the decision of the coach to leave me out of the eleven was baffling and hurtful. I wanted to win the world cup for my country and it hurts me because we lost a golden opportunity."
(with PTI inputs)
