Rajput on Mumbai coach controversy: Must create healthy environment for players

Mumbai cricket is going through one of its toughest phases After a forgettable outing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 where they lost four of their five games in the league stage Mumbai kickstarted their preparations for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 50over tournament just a few weeks backWhile over 120 players were slugging out in the selection trials the corridors of the Mumbai Cricket Association MCA were busy with the coach appointment saga Ramesh Powar was the Cricket Improvement Committeersquos CIC choice while MCA preferred Amol MuzumdarAfter several email exchanges between CIC chief Lalchand Rajput and the MCA office bearers Powar was finally appointed for the hot seat on TuesdaylsquoIt could have been avoidedrsquoThe entire episode could have been avoided felt Rajput ldquoIf proper process was followed there would not have been any misunderstanding Ramesh had applied to the secretary and a copy was marked to the CIC The CIC did not know that Amol had shown interest Since we had Ramesh and taking into consideration his experience at the National Cricket Academy and senior India womenrsquos team the CIC felt he was the best candidate for the job Hence he was appointedrdquo Rajput told midday from Zimbabwe where he is coaching their national teamMCA has been sitting on key appointments like coaches and selectors despite the CIC finalising the candidates last October itself Though Amit Pagnis had resigned immediately after the Mushtaq Ali T20 debacle last month new coach Powar was appointed only on Tuesday Pagnis was appointed only 24 days before the T20 tournamentThe BCCI has already announced that U19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy and a womenrsquos tournament will be conducted in the COVIDhit season but the MCA is yet to swing into actionRajput agreed timely appointments will make a difference ldquoObviously if they coaches and selectors are appointed well in advance the selectors can plan their line of action The coach can plan properly for the season You canrsquot rush things at the last minuterdquo said Indiarsquos 2007 World T20winning coachMumbai have been struggling to find a coach ever since Chandrakant Pandit was ousted in 2017 In three seasons Mumbai have had as many coaches with Powar being the third one Captains too have been changed ldquoThatrsquos what the CIC would like to address as we want the coach to be around for a long period But this season there was uncertainty because of COVID but surely the tenure of the coach should be for a longer period The selectorsrsquo job is to appoint the captain and I am sure they will be looking at the continuity factorrdquoRajput felt a healthy environment is important for the team to perform betterNeed to feel goodldquoEveryone wants Mumbai to be where it belongs We all know that the performance over a period of time has not been up to what Mumbaikars are expecting We the CIC would like to give the coaches selectors and players a healthy environment so that the team performs better We allmdashMCA CIC players support staffmdashhave to create that environment so that the players have the feelgood factor to perform to the best of their abilities I am sure in time to come Mumbai will start performing like a champion team if the management creates a healthy environmentrdquo Rajput signed off