Players need to put team above self: Ex-coach WV Raman

New Delhi, May 14

WV Raman, who has been ousted as the national women’s cricket team coach, has written to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, alleging that there is a “prima donna culture” in the team.

In his email, which has been copied to National Cricket Academy (NCA) head Rahul Dravid, Raman has also offered to present a roadmap for women’s cricket in the country, if he is asked.

In a surprising move, the former India Test player was not retained as the head coach of the women’s team, when the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) picked Ramesh Powar for a second stint. Raman’s major achievements included a runners-up finish for India in the women’s T20 World Cup last year, though very little cricket was played with him in charge. “As far as I know, Raman has said that he has always ‘believed in team being placed above everybody else, and insisted that no individual can really be a prima donna’,” a source privy to Raman’s email said.

Raman’s letter to the two former India captains is sure to ruffle a few feathers, given that it has always been the coaches who have either stepped aside or been sacked after serious differences with players, most notably ODI captain Mithali Raj.

‘Star culture’

While Raman’s letter didn’t name anyone, it is understood that he has dwelt extensively on the “star culture” that prevails in the team, which he said is doing more harm than good. While repeated calls to Raman went unanswered, a source did admit that a mail to both Ganguly and Dravid has gone out. It is learnt that Raman has written about certain individuals who need to place the team above self.

Raman, it is learnt, is dismayed by allegations that he is not proactive as a coach. He wrote that he oversaw three training sessions (for Trailblazers, Velocity and Supernovas) between 1pm and 9pm in humid UAE conditions during the Women’s T20 Challenge in 2020.

The letter has been copied to Dravid because Raman believes that he can contribute towards building a roadmap for Indian women’s cricket. “When it comes to building a coaching manual or a training program for cricketers, it is the NCA which takes charge,” the source said. “So if Raman has any inputs with regards to training modules for upcoming women cricketers, the best person certainly is NCA head Dravid.” — PTI

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