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BCCI may call for special meeting to discuss Mithali Raj episode

Mithali has been disturbed by women's team coach Ramesh Powar's reported remarks questioning her commitment to the game.

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A post on social media by ace Indian cricketer and former captain Mithali Raj has forced the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) office-bearers to call for a special general meeting (SGM) to fix the responsibility.

Mithali has been disturbed by women's team coach Ramesh Powar's reported remarks questioning her commitment to the game. Calling it as the darkest day of her life, Mithali wrote on social media that she is hurt because her commitment towards the game is being questioned.

Mithali's post read: "I'm deeply saddened & hurt by the aspersions cast on me. My commitment to the game & 20yrs of playing for my country.The hard work, sweat, in vain. Today, my patriotism doubted, my skill set questioned & all the mud slinging- it's the darkest day of my life. May god give strength."

Given the situation and as per BCCI constitution, the acting secretary has one option — to convene a SGM.

The whole episode began when Mithali was dropped from the ICC Women's World T20 semifinal against England, which India lost. BCCI Committee of Administrators (COA) member Diana Edulji supported captain Harmanpreet Kaur's decision.

On Tuesday, Mithali wrote a mail to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, Cricket Operations GM Saba Karim, COA members Vinod Rai and Edulji and it got leaked to the media.

How and who leaked such confidential letter, painting grim picture of proceedings in the Indian dressing room, has given fresh ammunition for BCCI office bearers to attack Johri for using it for his personal benefit.

"This has not been the first time that a senior player has been dropped from the team. The matter used to be discussed by BCCI president after getting confidential reports from captain, manager and the coach. But how and who leaked these reports to media should be made accountable," is the opinion of BCCI office-bearers.

DNA has found out that these leaked reports were with only four people — Rai, Edulji, Karim, and Johri — in BCCI.

"This is deeply baffling," one of the recipients of Mithali's email told DNA on condition of anonymity on Tuesday when the report was leaked.

"This is anybody's guess that who is leaking all this. The court has to take cognisance of this mud slinging going on inside the BCCI. Instead of holding elections, COA is working overtime to save the CEO," said Aditya Verma, Cricket Association of Bihar secretary and petitioner in BCCI IPL spot-fixing case.

There was a lot of speculation on what's next for Mithali and whether her position in the team had become untenable. Questions were raised over the 35-year-old's future in the team and rumours of retirement has already begun to do the rounds.

Going by the precedents, where Greg Chappell, Anil Kumble and even Tushar Arothe (recently with the women's team) had to exit after their spats with captains or players, it would be a great challenge for Powar to come back as coach given that his contract expired after the World T20.

Include Johri case

There is also a demand from some state associations to include the matter of sexual harassment case in the SGM agenda. They want to discuss why Rai ignored colleague Edulji's views while constituting an independent inquiry committee to probe charges of sexual harassment against Johri.

"The entire sequence of events in Johri case will be brought into the notice of Court during the next hearing," Verma added.

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