IPL 2020: Pravin Tambe Under Scanner For Playing In T10 League

Two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders sprung a big surprise for bidding for 48-year old Pravin Tambe. The Kolkata-based secured the veteran leg-spinner’s services at his base price of INR 20 lakh. In the process, Pravin Tambe also became the oldest cricketer to earn a contract from an IPL franchise.

Pravin Tambe had become an overnight sensation when Rajasthan Royals had bought him in 2013 while he was 41-year old and was yet to play a top-level game for a first-class side. He played his first recognised T20 against Delhi Daredevils, in 2013. The leg-spinner then showed his talent by finishing the 2013 Champions League T20 as its highest wicket-taker. He picked up 12 wicketsin five games at an average of 6.50.

Those performances finally helped him break into Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy side as he made his much-awaited first-class debut. Tambe later played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016 and is yet to play a single IPL game since that season. And if things don’t turn out smoothly for Tambe in the coming months, he can miss the next season too.

We get a SEASONED campaigner in Pravin Tambe! ?
An interesting pick by the #KKRThinkTank ? #IPLAuction #KorboLorboJeetbo #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/PWVM1mKNLY

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) December 19, 2019

Pravin Tambe in troubled water:

Pravin Tambe has breached the BCCI rules by playing in the T10 League last year held in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. According to the BCCI rules, any contracted Indian player cannot participate in any T10 or T20 leagues around the world. And the officials are now looking into the matter. If Pravin Tambe is found guilty, he will be unlikely to play in IPL 2020.

“The rule is clear that they [the players] cannot participate in any T20 or T10 tournaments if he is a [BCCI] registered player,” IPL Governing Council Chairman Brijesh Patel told Mid-Day.

“They can only play in one-day, three-day or four-day cricket like county cricket or maybe in Bangladesh, but that permission has to be taken from the state association and the BCCI. We are looking into this [Tambe matter]. Let us see, I don’t know the exact situation. We are trying to get some more information. I want to get proper facts and then only [we can decide],” he added.

Pravin Tambe, meanwhile, has played 38 IPL games so far, picking up a total of 28 wickets at an economy of 7.75 and an average of 30.46.

Also Read: ECB Open To Discussions Over BCCI’s 4 Nations Tournament