Amid controversy, BCCI invites applications for coach of national women's team

Ramesh Powar's term as interim coach has come to an end amid his controversial standoff with senior player Mithali Raj.

Reuters File Photo of Ramesh Powar.

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday invited applications for the post of coach for the national women's team. The term of curren coach Ramesh Powar - in the spotlight over his differences with senior player Mithali Raj - ended on the same day.

BCCI is now looking to replace Powar for the post of head coach of the national team. "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)," its notification read.

While Powar - who was named the interim coach in July - is eligible to apply for the post once again, it is unlikely that he would get another term in the wake of the recent controversy that has rocked the team. The former India cricketer has been accused by Mithali of having humiliated her. The decision to drop Mithali - the ODI captain of the national team - from the semifinal match against England in the Women's T20 World Cup has opened a pandora's box of allegations and counter-allegations. On his part, Powar reportedly accused of Mithali of threatening to leave the tournament if she was not allowed to open against Pakistan. He also reportedly communicated to the BCCI that the veteran batsman was 'difficult to manage.'

The post of head coach of the national women's team has been shrouded in controversy even before. In fact, Powar was named interim coach after Tushar Arothe resigned due to a revolt by some senior players in the side. At the time, news agency PTI had reported that players like Mithali and T20 captain Harmanpreet were not too enthusiastic about Arothe's coaching methods. The BCCI, however, revealed no names about players who had complained against him.