MCA accepts Powar's resignation

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has not only accepted a disgruntled Kiran Powar’s resignation as the coach of its Under-16 team but has also started the process of appointing his replacement.

The Cricket Improvement Committee will be convened once the its chairman Dilip Vengsarkar returns from the USA.

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has not only accepted a >disgruntled Kiran Powar’s resignation as the coach of its Under-16 team but has also started the process of appointing his replacement.

Confirming the acceptance of Powar’s resignation a day after the former first-class cricketer had emailed it, Dr. P.V. Shetty, MCA joint secretary told Sportstar : “The Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) will now be convened once the CIC chairman (Dilip Vengsarkar) returns from the USA. We shall appoint the Under-16 coach at the earliest.”

Powar, in his three-page resignation letter, had highlighted that he hadn’t been offered a contract for the coming season and had been working on “daily wages” during the team’s preparatory camp. However, an MCA official, on condition of anonymity, revealed that none of the MCA support staff members – from age-groups to Ranji team to women’s teams – have been offered a contract due to technical issues.

“With the Lodha Committee reforms hovering around, the association is still not sure if the contracts would be valid, so it has asked all the coaches to be patient till the air over the reforms is cleared,” he said.

Most CIC members, meanwhile, are upset with the manner in which Powar has tried to portray himself as a victim. “The chairman wanted stringent action against him earlier but some of us stated we shouldn’t do so without hearing from him. It is indeed unacceptable for a former Mumbai cricketer to not only play the victim card without turning up for the meeting but also wage a personal war against a senior coach.”