Ajay Ratra applies for Indian Women cricket team coaching job

Ratra has played six Tests and 12 ODIs for India.

Ajay Ratra is closing in on a coaching role with the Indian Women's cricket team. (Getty)

Very recently has Tushar Arothe quit the Indian women’s team’s chief coach job which has now vacated the much-coveted position. Knowing that the position is vacant, Ajay Ratra, former Indian wicketkeeper has thrown in his nomination for the post.  

On Tuesday, it was reported that former India women’s team captain and a seasoned coach, Mamatha Maben, has applied for the top job. A day later, Ratra confirmed to this publication that he has indeed applied for the role.

“I have sent in my application. I have a fair amount of experience in coaching and I am confident of delivering (if given a chance),” Ratra told Sportstar on Wednesday.

The applications will be closing on July 20 and this publication has learnt that the Board will short-list the candidates and call for an interview once the BCCI GM (Cricket Operations), Syed Saba Karim, returns from the UK.

Meanwhile, Ramesh Powar will act as an interim coach with the Women's team. He will oversee the camp in Bengaluru from July 25 to August 3.

Ratra has coached Punjab till 2016 and he has been regularly acting as the fielding coach at the NCA in Bengaluru. He, however, wasn’t considered for the Mumbai job and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) decided to appoint homeboy, Vinayak Samant, as the coach.

“I wasn’t expecting it anyway. Mumbai has had the tradition of appointing state cricketers as coaches. But since they invited applications, I decided to try my luck,” the 36-year-old said.

 “I am flexible (to coach any side). As far as women’s team coaching role is concerned, it is a long process and it’s too early to comment on anything,” the former India international said.

(Inputs from Sportstar) 

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 18 Jul, 2018

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