Mithali breaks silence, blames coach and Edulji on World T20 axing

New Delhi, Nov 27 - The selection fiasco in the Women's World T20 semi-final against England refuses to die down with the centre of the storm, former India skipper Mithali Raj on Tuesday launching a scathing attack on head coach

Mithali Raj (Image - IANS)

"At this juncture I would also like to point out that I have nothing against the T/20 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. Having said that, my issue is deeper. My issue is with the coach Ramesh Powar and in all stories circulating in the press, I find that issue getting diluted," she wrote.

On Powar, she narrated a series of instances where she said: "It was worrying and insulting because the coach was out to destroy and humiliate me."

"For instance, walking off if I am sitting anywhere around, watching in the nets when others bat but choosing to walk away when I am batting in nets, if I try to go up to him to talk to start looking into his phone and keep walking. It was embarrassing and very evident to everyone that I was being humiliated."

Mithali further accused Powar of putting her under virtual "house arrest" and did not allow her to step out of the dressing room during the game against Australia, when she was suffering from fever.

Mithali recovered in time for the semi-final, but surprisingly the coach had other ideas which was evident at the toss when Harmanpreet said the team management did not want to tweak with the winning combination.

"Coming to the semi-finals, usually Ramesh (Powar) announces the team a day before or on the day of the game before we enter the ground but it was unusual that on the day of the semis, he did not announce the team. It is when Harman walked to toss, he came running to me and said that they were going with the same team," she wrote.

"It meant the whole team knew who were playing and it was just me who was not aware. Also, when the team was getting ready to field in the second innings, it is customary that even those who aren't playing should join the team huddle as it has always been the norm in our team."

"But to insult me that day, he sent a word through the manager to tell that it was only the playing eleven that can join in the huddle and the rest can go back to dugout making us feel as outcasts. It was worrying and insulting because the coach was out to destroy and humiliate me," she added.

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IANS