Mithali Raj 'threatened' to retire during World T20, Ramesh Powar tells BCCI

Mithali had earlier written a letter to the BCCI, accusing women's team coach Ramesh Powar and Committee of Administrators member Diana Edulji of being biased and trying to "destroy" her.

Photo courtesy: Twitter/@ICC

The Indian women's cricket team continues to be mired in controversy after coach Ramesh Powar informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that former skipper and veteran batswoman Mithali Raj threatened to retire midway during the recently-concluded World T20 after being denied the opening slot. 

In an official 10-page report to the BCCI in the ongoing saga over Mithali Raj’s controversial omission from the World T20 semi-final clash which the Indians lost, Powar informed that the 35-year-old batswoman had threatened to leave during the World T20 and announce her retirement in the West Indies if she was not allowed to open the batting against Pakistan.

"Before Pakistan match, video analyst Pushkar Sawant came to my room with the news that Mithali is upset about not allowing her to open in Pakistan match. She packed her bags to leave with the announcement of retiring in the morning. I was shell shocked to understand why? Powar said in the report, which is in possession of ANI.  

"It gave me an impression that for Mithali Raj, she comes first and then Team India. To save positive team environment and due to her threatening (retirement), we opened with her. After the game, she was making her own group with selected players sitting away from team," he added.

Further alleging that Mithali had minimum inputs during team meetings, the Indian women's cricket team coach said that the former skipper was unable to adapt to the plans and paid more attention to her personal goals rather than thinking about the side's achievement overall. 

"Mithali Raj, a senior player in the team, has minimum inputs in team meetings. She couldn't understand and adapt to team plan, ignored her role & batted for own milestones. lack of keeping the momentum going on," he said.

Powar also pointed out that though he tried his level best to address Mithali's batting issues, the latter continued to struggle to score runs quickly. "Worked really hard as a coach to address her (Mithali Raj) power hitting batting skills and running b/w wickets in almost every session. In practice games, she was struggling to score quickly," Powar added in his report to the country's cricket board. 

Soon after Powar's allegations, Mithali took to her official Twitter handle and expressed her disappointment over the same. 

"I'm deeply saddened and hurt by the aspersions cast on me. My commitment to the game and 20 years of playing for my country. The hard work, sweat, in vain. Today, my patriotism doubted, my skill set questioned and all the mudslinging- it's the darkest day of my life. May God give strength," she tweeted. 

Powar's report came few days after Mithali had written a letter to the BCCI, accusing him and Committee of Administrators member Diana Edulji of being biased and trying to "destroy" her. 

Earlier, Mithali was left out of the World T20 semifinal against England that raised quite a few eyebrows after India's eight-wicket loss. She was dropped despite scoring back-to-back fifties in the group stage of the competition held in the West Indies.