Former Indian spinner Ramesh Powar has been named as Mumbai head coach ahead of the Vijay Hazare Trophy slated to start on 20th February, 2021. Powar had also served as the head coach of the women’s national team before an ugly spat with Mithali Raj led to his ouster in 2018. A former Mumbai player, Powar will replace Amit Pagnis who resigned from his post after Mumbai’s horrendous showing in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Having confirmed Powar’s appointment as the head coach, the Mumbai Cricket Association on Tuesday stated that the former spinner has been appointed as the head coach for the ongoing domestic season. “The appointment is for this season for now and going forward, we will see,” an MCC office-bearer said.
Powar also thanked the Lalchand Rajput-headed Improvement Committee and the MCA for giving him another opportunity and expressed his excitement at the prospect of coaching the Mumbai team.
Powar who played 31 ODI’s and a couple of Tests for India said that he is grateful to MCA for showing trust in his abilities. “I am grateful to the MCA and CIC for trusting my abilities. I am looking forward to creating a positive environment in the side and playing a positive brand of cricket for which Mumbai is always known. I am looking forward to the assignments ahead.”
His first assignment as the Mumbai coach will start off with the Vijay Hazare Trophy where Mumbai is placed with Delhi, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Pondicherry in Group D.