Press Trust of India
New York, August 5: Veteran Rajasthan Royals leg-spinner Praveen Tambe has come under spotlight after it was learnt that he had played an unsanctioned T20 match in the United States alongside tainted Bangladeshi cricket Mohammed Ashraful, who is banned on charges of match-fixing.
According to a report published in a cricket-specific website the 43-year-old Mumbai bowler and former Bangladesh captain Ashraful represented South Gujarat CC Juniors against Bulls, July 27 in the ‘Lauren Hill’ Cricket tournament here.
Tambe is playing in the Liverpool league in England and from there he travelled to the United States for a break from July 23 to July 31.
“I had no idea it was an official tournament,” Tambe was quoted as saying. “I had just gone there to visit my friends in the US for a week and I was enjoying. I did not even have a kit with me.”
Tambe reportedly said that his friends took him to play a ‘friendly’ game July 27. “I was told it was a practice match. When I went to the ground I realised it was a T20 match,” Tambe said.
“Till I went into the ground and stood at my fielding position I had no clue that he (Ashraful) was also playing. Even my friends did not know. They were told that some other friend had got him,” Tambe added.
MCA joint secretary Dr PV Shetty said that they were aware about the incident and will discuss in the upcoming committee meeting.
