Mithali Raj writes to BCCI, accuses coach Ramesh Powar of discrimination and bias

New Delhi: In a letter addressed to the BCCI, India’s captain in the ODI format, Mithali Raj has accused coach Ramesh Powar of discrimination and bias, adding that has Powar humiliated her during the World T20 in West Indies.

Raj, in the letter, also said she was hurt and baffled when she was left out of the Indian team for the World T20 semi-final.

“.... 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. I wanted to win the world cup for my country and it hurts me because we lost a golden opportunity.”

“May I say that I am aware that by writing this email I am making myself even more vulnerable. she is a COA member while I am just a player. For the record, I scored back to back fifties in the games before the semi final, was adjudged player of the match on both occasions, to leave me out in the semi final and go with only three performing batters was a decision that left me baffled as much as it left the whole world”, the letter added.

Raj, who is the leading scorer for India in women’s T20 Internationals, had scored two fifties in two matches and won player of the matches awards.

India lost to England by eight wickets and serious questions were raised on Harmanpreet Kaur’s team selection. (UNI)