Ramesh Powar wanted to hurt me and destroy me, says Mithali Raj

Mithali Raj was ruled out of the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup © ICC

Mithali Raj claimed that coach Ramesh Powar had humiliated and discriminated against him during the World T20 campaign in India to the West Indies, which ended with a semifinal exit to which the captain ODI was not part of it. According to a letter sent by Mithali to BCCI's General Manager, Rahul Johri and Managing Director Saba Karim, posted on the India Today website, Mithali said his exclusion from the semifinal match against England was "baffling" and hurtful "and that his main problem was with the coach who was indifferent to him before the match in Antigua.

"My problems with the coach started immediately when we landed in the West Indies.In the beginning, there were small indications that his behavior towards me was unfair and discriminatory, but I'm not overly concerned, "said Mithali in a letter revealed by India Today. . She alleged that despite compliance with some of Powar's decisions in the interest of the team – for example, moving out of her usual open position and turning around when asked to return to her preferred location. – the indifference of the coach to her caused him a lot of stress.

After a score of 0 and 18 that Mithali was successful in the World T20 preparation matches against the Windies and England, Mithali was moved in the order of the match against New Zealand where she did not compete. He did not have time to hit. However, she regained her initial position in the matches against Pakistan and Ireland, in which she scored successive half-centuries and also received the title of Player of the Match for both games. The fact that she was able to reopen was solely due to the intervention of the selectors before the match against Pakistan, the letter said.

"As I have not played intermediate order lately and without training yet, I have accepted for the team 's biggest cause. team had a length in advance.After the match, it was obvious that the opening had not worked because the team had 3/38 after the power play and yet in the meeting On the following day, he informed me that we were going to play with the same first match as against New Zealand, and that he also congratulated the opening players, even though they have not succeeded.

"That left me completely shocked in the face of Pakistan, there was no requirement to strengthen the average order and I also have a big record against them." match we had to win.I immediately contacted the selectors and on their intervention, he told me just before the game at breakfast that I opened.I behaved well and we beat him, but instead of saying words of encouragement, it seemed like he was there to prove a point and from there his behavior changed dramatically towards me and really caused a lot of stress to middle of one of the most important tournaments for us. "

The letter alleged that Powar had ignored and avoided Mithali during the network sessions, which had embarrbaded and humiliated her, and that she had requested the help of the team leader to facilitate a meeting with Powar to share his concerns and make suggestions to him, including trying young people at the opening post. in the game against Ireland. The situation worsened after the meeting, said the letter, in which it was reported that Mithali, who had a fever and had a knee pain, had been asked not to participate in the match against Australia.

"The evening after the team meeting before the match against Australia, Ramesh is ringing in my room and ordering me not to come to the ground as the media will be there … One m 39 said that I did not have to be with my own team one of our biggest games.I was shocked.I immediately spoke to the manager to tell him that I am not seriously hurt and that I I am seriously ill, and I want to come see my team play.She agreed and told me to come.

"But a few moments after my conversation with the manager, I received a message from Ramesh in which he had told me not to go out of the locker room." I found it odd why he was doing it. in the mix when it was only at the call of the officials and the physio When we won the match against Australia, Ramesh sent a word to a teammate so that he m & # 39; Calling on the dugout for me to join the team for a victory round, it was strange because throughout the match I was under house arrest. was never allowed to leave the locker room. "

Arrived in Antigua three days before the semifinal against England, India had only one scheduled commissioning session. Powar, however, took five players for additional training and hearing news of the same thing, Mithali had expressed his willingness to participate in the session, having not had the opportunity to argue for a few days. The letter stated that there was no answer from Powar and that he was only asked to join the entire team later. The letter also stated that Mithali had been one of the last to have been hit in the nets, a clear sign that he had already decided that he did not want to play against me in half. final".

The eleven playing and the announcement of his exclusion for the semi-finals were known only a few minutes before the draw, contrary to the usual methods of choosing the team the day before or on the eve of the match, indicated the letter. "That's when Harman walked to launch, he [Powar] came running towards me and said that they were going with the same team. It meant that the whole team knew who was playing and it was just me who was not aware of it.

"In addition, when the team was preparing for the second run, it is common practice that even those who do not play are not part of the group, as has always been the norm in our team." to insult me ​​that day, he sent a word to the manager to tell him that only the eleven could play and that the rest could go back to the dugout, making us feel like pariahs. disturbing and insulting because the coach wanted to destroy and humiliate me. "

Mithali's critics were not limited to Powar, the letter alleging that Diana Edulji, a member of the CDA, although aware of what had happened, had chosen to ignore it. "Her cheeky support in the press regarding my bench's decision in the T20 World Cup semi-finals has deeply upset me, even more so because she's experiencing the real facts after she's finished." Afterwards, his statement that "the selection is not the headache of the ACO, it's like suggesting that it's not there." has no control system (sic) and balance and that no matter who can do anything and draw from it because it has the support of the people at power.

"I have always adhered to the protocol and have not said a word in the press about everything that has happened in the West Indies, believing that the BCCI is there and that in the end , "my truth" will be listening and my case will be processed, but the cheeky support of a COA member is a clear sign of bias, but also a position has already been taken against me : saying, "I do not support anyone," and then supporting my position in the press is the clearest of prejudices, "the letter said.