Mamatha applies for Indian women's cricket team coach job

BENGALURU: Mamatha Maben, former India captain and seasoned coach, has thrown her hat in the ring for the job of chief coach of India's women's cricket team. The BCCI had called for applications on Monday and the former all-rounder sent in her resume less than 24 hours later.
The post fell vacant last week after Tushar Arothe stepped down citing differences with her players as the reason.Former spinner Ramesh Powar has been appointed coach in the interim, and he will oversee the national camp in Bengaluru from July 25 to August 3 in preparation for a tour of Sri Lanka and the World T20 championship later this year.
"A lot of people had asked me to apply," Mamatha, a BCCI Level 1 coach, said. "I have 10 years of coaching experience behind me. Anyway, I think the applicant who is most qualified should get the job because the only thing that matters is Indian cricket."
Mamatha, a medium-pacer and a handy middle-order bat, brings impressive credentials both as a player and coach to the table. As a player, she made her international debut in 1993 and returned to the national fold after an eight-year hiatus. She then went on to captain the team.
After she called time on her career as a player, she coached the Chinese team in the run-up to the Asian Games in 2009-10 and later had a lengthy stint with the Bangladesh women's side - first as head coach and later as technical adviser. On the domestic front, she has coached Rajasthan and Karnataka apart from working at the KSCA academy.
On how she has evolved as a coach, the 47-year-old-old said, "I've made considerable progress in the past 10 years. I have kept myself abreast with the latest coaching techniques and the technology involved."
Asked if her experience of having led the Indian side and played alongside a few current players would help, Mamatha said, "Of course it gives me a psychological advantage. I've led Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami in the Indian team and Veda Krishnamurthy played with me in the Karnataka side. So, I've known the players over the years."
Applications for the post close on July 20 and the BCCI will then draw up a short list of candidates who will have to appear for an interview.