Ramesh Powar appointed Mumbai coach for Vijay Hazare Trophy

The long wait for Mumbai’s coach for the Vijay Hazare Trophy ended on Tuesday when Ramesh Powar, the former Mumbai and India off-spinner, was handed over the reins of the team.

Powar replaces close friend Amit Pagnis, who took responsibility for Mumbai’s mediocre outing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Despite Pagnis having resigned last month, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) office-bearers and the Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) was involved in an internal tussle over appointing a new coach.

READ: Internal squabble delays appointment of Mumbai coach

While the office-bearers had approached Mumbai stalwart Amol Muzumdar, the CIC had proposed Powar, who has been the head coach of the Indian women’s team and a spin bowling coach at the National Cricket Academy.

With barely three days remaining for the squad’s departure to Jaipur for the inter-State one-day tournament’s group stage, the MCA office-bearers and CIC chairman Lalchand Rajput got together for a video conference. While Rajput softened his stance, indicating the CIC’s support for Muzumdar’s candidature in an email on Monday, the former Mumbai captain made himself unavailable on Tuesday.

READ: MCA forced to seek new head coach after Amit Pagnis quits

It is understood that since the MCA had approached Muzumdar to fill the void did the Rajasthan Royals batting coach agree to step in. Once the administrative tussle erupted, Muzumdar conveyed his unavailability to the office-bearers.

Powar has an enormous task on hand with little time to prepare. He will meet the players and the selection panel on Wednesday, when the squad will be finalised.