‘Without any information or talking to me, they removed me’
Former Baroda batsman Tushar Arothe has been named the Indian women's cricket team coach, replacing Purnima Rau, who claims she was not taken into confidence before the change was made.
"I have been a very successful coach and have been part of eight series wins in the past two years. Without any information or talking to me, they removed me," the former India captain told.
"It should not hurt the team. One month before the World Cup, if you are making such drastic changes, to a successful team, that means you are not thinking about the country, you are not thinking about the team," she said.
Arothe, a former Baroda batsman, will replace Rau, a cricket news website reported.
The 50-year-old has been brought in till the World Cup in June-July for the time being.
Rau, who started coaching the team in 2015, said she accepted whatever money was given to her.
"I accepted whatever was given. I had ideals about the team, country," she said.
She said she received no communication from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Asked if she wanted to take up the issue, she said she does not intend to disturb the team.
“I wish them well," she said.
Arothe has been the women's fielding coach and head coach between 2008 and 2012.
"I've had prior experience of coaching the women's team, so familiarity, at least with the seniors, won't be an issue," he was quoted as saying.
India will be competing in a quadrangular series in South Africa next month, also involving Ireland and Zimbabwe.
The tournament will be followed by the World Cup where team will open its campaign against England on June 24 in Derby.