Harmanpreet, Smriti write letter to CoA requesting Powar’s term extension

Vinod Rai, Chairman of Committee of Administrators (COA) said in a statement that both Harmanpreet and Smriti have backed Powar to continue as coach till 2021

Ramesh Powar’s tenure as a head coach of the Indian women’s cricket team ended quite dramatically. After the entire Mithali Raj-controversy, a new scenario popped up recently which is indicating a ‘split’ between the cricketers. Despite Raj's fallout with Powar, T20 skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and her deputy Smriti Mandhana demanding his return as the head coach.

Vinod Rai, Chairman of Committee of Administrators (COA) said in a statement that both Harmanpreet and Smriti have backed Powar to continue as coach till 2021. “Yes, they have written a letter stating that they want Ramesh Powar to continue,” Rai said.

Here’s the letter that Harmanpreet wrote to the CoA (with PTI inputs)

“I, as the T20 captain and ODI vice-captain is appealing before you to allow Powar to further continue as our team coach. There are hardly 15 months for the next T20 World Cup and a month to go for the New Zealand tour. The way he has transformed us as a team, I feel no reason to replace him.

Our defeat in the semi-finals was very disheartening and it brings us all to feel more miserable to see how the controversies has stained our image and questioned the entire cricket fraternity.

Sir Ramesh Powar not only improved us as players but did motivate us to set targets and challenge our own limits. He have changed the face of Indian women's cricket team both technically and strategically. He has inculcated in us the sense of winning.

“With regard to the exclusion of Mithali Raj, Sir Ramesh Powar was not single-handedly responsible. The decision was entirely based on the cricketing logics and observations from the past.

Keeping in mind the need of the hour where me, Smriti, the selector (Sudha Shah) and the coach together in the presence of our manager felt that we should go ahead with the winning combination.

And I believe it should have come to your understanding that the intent was not personal but entirely based for the welfare of the team.

Another change of coach will effect our growth and we will have to start from the scratch. And whatever may be the reason for Ramesh Sir's and Mithali Raj's conflicts, they should solve it across the table like a family and call it truce. This will provide more sense and security to them and the entire team.”

The Mithali-Powar rift

The split is just not this but there are several other players in the team who reportedly stand against the willingness of the skipper and her deputy. According to a few media reports, Ekta Bisht and Mansi Joshi are against Powar’s reinstatement along with ODI captain Mithali.

Powar's interim tenure ended on November 30, a week after India lost the semifinals of the World T20 to England. The team management dropped Mithali for the knock-out fixture, triggering a huge controversy.

Mithali went on to accuse Powar and COA member Diana Edulji of trying to destroy her and having a bias against her.

Powar, on his part, accused Mithali of threatening to retire midway into the World T20 after being denied the opening slot and creating chaos in the team.

On Monday, things became more dramatic with Harmanpreet throwing her weight behind the former spinner.

BCCI invited applications

The BCCI has already invited fresh applications for the job. The deadline for applying for the coach's job ends on December 14 and the BCCI is looking for a high-profile candidate to fill the vacancy.