Ramesh Powar quits as spin coach of MCA's cricket academy, says he felt like 'working in a box'

Former India off-spinner Ramesh Powar has quit as the spin coach of the Mumbai Cricket Association’s cricket academy, it was learnt on Thursday. Powar, who played for India in both Tests and One-Day Internationals, and also featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL), had been associated with the academy since the past six months, a senior MCA official, who did not wish to be named, told PTI. [caption id=“attachment_2502906” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of former Indian off-spinner Ramesh Powar. AFP[/caption] Powar resigned on Wednesday due to “personal reasons”, the official maintained, adding that his resignation will now be placed before the Managing Committee of the cricket body for approval. However, in an interview to the Times of India, Powar revealed that a “lack of creative freedom” in his role left him with no option but quit from the role. “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 Times of India on Thursday. The former Indian spinner wanted to address both technical and mental issues facing the Mumbai spinners — Karsh Kothari, Sidak Singh and Vijay Gohil — during the free period in January before the players got busy with their board exams. He felt that the month of January would have been the best time to hold a camp as it would have been very difficult to conduct advanced training immediately after the break due to exams.   “We could have worked on their skills and fitness, and they could have got a break after working hard for two-three weeks at this camp. Then, they could have come fresh for the next season, and we could have worked in them again. Thereafter, they had the summer camp to attend to, and I can’t call them from there since they play matches there too. I felt that I could have done better. I felt like I was working in a box, and I can’t do that. I need to come out if it and work. There are a lot of level 2 and 3 coaches in Mumbai. Why do you need me then?” Powar lamented. The 39-year-old slammed the MCA for being “unprofessional” in their approach of dealing with him and feared that the spinners could “suffer” in the absence of a person who could provide sound technical advice. In addition, Powar felt stepping down from the position, would make it easier for him help the spinners on an individual basis without the question of any conflict of interest surfacing. The MCA is yet to initiate the process to select Powar’s successor, according to the MCA official. With inputs from PTI