Time to bring focus back on cricket: Mithali

Gearing up for the New Zealand tour, Indian women's ODI captain Mithali Raj Saturday stressed on the need to bring focus back on cricket after hogging the limelight for the wrong reasons following a controversial ending to their World T20 campaign.

Mithali was in the news after falling out with Ramesh Powar, who was the coach of the team at the recently held women's World T20 in the Caribbean where she was dropped for the semifinal against England.

Their spat became public after both wrote to the BCCI and their respective letters got leaked.

But the selectors have reposed their faith on Mithali who retained her place in the T20 squad and captaincy for next month's tour to New Zealand.

"The way things panned out was obviously not in a very good taste. It affected everybody in a different level, in a different way," Mithali said during a promotional event here.

"Now I am sure things are settled and we should give more spotlight on the sport, on the players and in the team."
"Now that we have a tour (vs New Zealand), it's time that we move forward. Look forward and be more positive going forward."
"And usually in a family there will always be a difference of opinion. Everybody will not have the same kind of perspective. There will be issues and it does happen."
"It's very early to comment on him. I had met him briefly at the National Cricket Academy. We have to support him and look forward to build a team."