BCCI Sacks Purnima Rau To Appoint Tushar Arothe As India Women Coach
Apr 21, 2017 at 4:30 PM
Purnima Rau has been sacked by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as the head coach of women’s national team prior to the Women’s World Cup 2017 which is scheduled in England and Wales from June 24.
“I don’t know where I have gone wrong. They have again sacked me without any reason. The BCCI did not have the decency to inform me about my removal as coach. I got to know from someone else. It is very insulting,’’ Purnima was quoted as saying by Telangana Today.
Hyderabad’s Rau was replaced with former Baroda cricketer Tushar Arothe as former Indian women skipper, Rau was shocked after she came to know about her sacking through the media outlets, according to the latest development.
Having the good rapport with the members of Team India, the former all-rounder Rau stated she has been hurt.
“They have insulted me. There is no explanation and I am out. I have not asked for any contract and I worked with measly amount as coach of the Indian team,’ Rau added.
The reports suggested Arothe will join the week-long conditioning camp of the national women team in Mumbai. Arothe was also the part of Indian women team in 2008 and 2012 as a fielding coach.
It becomes pertinent that Arothe has been appointed on a short-term basis according to the latest development.
“The call came from the BCCI asking if I’d be keen. An opportunity to coach the national team is something I didn’t want to miss. I’ve had prior experience of coaching the women’s team, so familiarity, at least with the seniors, won’t be an issue,” Arothe was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
The signing has been expected till the 50-over World Cup which will conclude on July 23.
In the past, Rau was sacked when Indian Women performance was questioned in 2014 Twenty20 World Cup before being re-appointed in 2015.
Purnima has further lambasted Diana Eduljee, who is one of the Supreme Court-led Committee of Administrators members while terming the former skipper ‘vindicative’.
“She [Diana] has never done any good for women’s cricket in the country. She was very vindictive even during her playing days,” Purnima further said.
Indian women team is scheduled to participate in a quadrangular series which is compromised of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Ireland in May.
Interestingly, India women team under the guidance of Rau thrashed South Africa in the World Cup qualifying tournament final in Colombo which further included a first bilateral series win over Australia in January this year.
The 50-year-old Rau had played 33 One-day Internationals and five Tests for India. Rau had picked 50 wickets in ODIs and 15 in Tests.
In Derby, India will face hosts England in their opening match on June 24. The mega tournament will witness 28 matches in 21 days. Moreover, the final will be played at Lord’s on July 23.