The decision to not play Mithali Raj in the Women's World T20 semifinal did not go down well with her manager.
Mithali Raj was left out for India’s ICC Women’s World T20 semifinal against England on Friday. However, the decision did not look well in hindsight after the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side went down by eight wickets.
Many experts and fans questioned the logic behind not including Mithali Raj, India's most senior player, in the playing 11 for such a crucial match.
Kaur, however, defended her tactics saying she had “no regrets” as the decision was taken keeping team’s interests in mind.
“It’s not about not selecting Mithali, it’s about keeping a winning combination,” she said at the toss.
Mithali, India’s all-time leading run-scorer in T20Is, had scored 56 and 51 in India’s wins over Pakistan and Ireland in 2018 ICC Women’s World T20. She was rested for the last league match against Australia which India won by 48 runs to top their group.
However, the decision to not play Mithali Raj in the semifinal, did not go down well with her manager Annisha Gupta who lashed out at Kaur and the Indian think tank on Twitter.
“Unfortunately @BCCIWomen believes in politics not sport. After witnessing what @M_Raj03 ‘s experience could do in IndvIre it’s shocking that they went with what pleases @ImHarmanpreet -a manipulative, lying, immature, undeserving captain,” read a tweet posted soon after India were knocked out of the Women’s World T20.
In another tweet, she called Kaur a “manipulative, lying cheat”, according to ESPNCricinfo.
Gupta later confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that the unverified Twitter account belonged to her.
“I’d like to say that I don’t know what is going on the inside but now that the matches are being telecast, we can see who is performing and who is not,” Gupta told ESPNCricinfo.
“And we can see the kind of treatment that Mithali has received despite her brilliant performance and despite showing stability and consistency. The kind of treatment she has received is completely uncalled for and there is something deeper than we need to look at than just the statements that have been coming out.
“There are statements coming out that they wanted to give younger cricketers a chance, but you don’t drop your senior-most, most experienced players in a semifinal against a country like England. It goes beyond giving the youngsters a chance.”
When asked about her tweets she said: “Maybe I was a little angry, but I think it comes from the right place because I don’t stand for unfair treatment. The kind of favouritism that has been shown is very apparent. I think everybody can see the kind of favouritism that is being shown to certain members of the team.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Harmanpreet Kaur")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}