Ramesh Powar resigns as MCA academy coach; calls authorities ‘unprofessional’

Powar, who last played for India in 2007, was known for his cunning deliveries and his innate ability to catch batsmen off-guard. He was later roped in by the MCA to be their academy coach and help youngsters in and around the city of Mumbai to make it big on the international stage.

But due to recent developments and differences with the authorities at the MCA, have resulted in Powar handing in his papers and resigning from the post of head coach and he cited ‘unprofessionalism’ as the main issue for his resignation.

"There was no work to be done. There are a lot of protocols and technicalities in the MCA. I submitted a proposal (for a camp) in the first week of January. Now, we're in the second week of February, but they never got back to me. I can't just sit there and draw a salary from the MCA when I was supposed to help the spinners around," Powar told TOI in an interview on Thursday.

Powar claimed that the MCA have conducted their affairs in a haphazard manner over the past few years. 

”There should be a system. They should have informed me that I have been assigned as the talent hunt coach (of the bowlers) for a camp from January 15 to 20 via a letter or a mail. Instead, I got a call from a clerk in the MCA, who told me that I need to report for the camp. He then went on to ask me whether I’ll bring my own car or should the MCA send one. Aghast at his query, I told him that I’ll get my car. This is nothing but unprofessionalism basically," added Powar.

Powar has shown active involvement in the academy as he’s identified a few local youngsters in the academy who are capable of great things. But admitted that if they are not trained by professional physio’s, trainers, etc. they would not benefit from the academy.

"One of the kids I wanted to work on was (Mumbai left-arm spinner) Karsh Kothari. A lot of commentators were saying that his head/body is falling over one side while bowling. He's physically weak. He's got weak legs and hips. I had observed it during the season and I wanted to address that. With the help of a bowling coach, physio and trainer, he would have become better."