Ramesh Powar Humiliates me, Says Mithali Raj

Mithali Raj finally opened her mouth on being dropped from the playing XI for the World T20 semi-final against England. Committee of Administrators' (CoA) member Diana Edulji and coach Ramesh Powar are trying to destroy me, Mithali said.

Edulji said that the management has made the decision of not changing a winning combination and that was backfired. If India had won the game, I am sure nobody would have questioned their decision, she added. But Mithali didn’t accept the arguement of Edulji. In the mail written by Mithali it is said “For the first time in a 20-year long career, I felt deflated, depressed and let down.”

Mithali also confirmed that she has nothing against the T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur except for the fact that her call to support the decision of the coach to leave her out of the eleven was baffling and hurtful.

I had always respected Diana Edulji for her position as a member of the COA and also had faith in her, Mithali said. But I never think she will use her position against me, she added. Finding the situation out of control and realizing that it is important to solve the issues, I reached out Manager and explained everything, Mithali said.

But situation had become even worse after the meeting, as he wouldn’t acknowledge me. I didn’t exist for him, she added. Mithali said that she was instructed by Powar not to show up during the game against Australia.

"In the evening after the team meeting before the Australia game, Ramesh rings up in my room and instructs me not to come to the ground as the media will be there," she alleged.

"I was taken aback as to what media has to do with me being with the team. I was told I was not to be with my own team in one of our biggest games”, Mithali said she is shocked.

“It was worrying and insulting because the coach was out to destroy and humiliate me”, she wrote in the mail. On Wednesday, Powar is expected to meet Johri and Karim on this issue.