By Avenash Ramzan
If you think T20 cricket is only for the young, energetic and brash, then think again! Certainly, Pravin Vijay Tambe, the Indian leg-spinner, doesn’t think so.
At the ripe age of 48, the Mumbai ‘old boy’ of T20 cricket is set for an induction in the ‘Biggest Party in Sport’ come August.
Born in Bombay (now Mumbai) on October 8, 1971, Tambe is poised to become the first player from India to feature in the Caribbean Premier League. He was spanned up by three-time champions Trinbago Knight Riders for US$7,500 at the Player Draft.
To be eligible to participate in Leagues outside of India, Tambe had to be retired as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does not allow active players to play in foreign leagues.
“As per the MCA (Mumbai Cricket Association) records, his current status is retired. He has recently retired. First he had retired and then he withdrew it and now again he has retired. He has written an e-mail to the MCA in this regard,” an MCA official said this week.
In 2019, Tambe was also bought by the Kolkata Knights Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but was subsequently forced to withdraw after the BCCI pulled him up for playing in unsanctioned cricket leagues, like the T10 League.
Interesting journey
Tambe’s cricket journey has been quite interesting. Without any First-Class experience, he was picked by the Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2013, at the age of 41.
Prior to that, he had competed several years as a club cricketer in Mumbai, and even worked as a Liaison Officer in the IPL when matches were played at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai.
Tambe’s first recognised T20 game was in 2013 against the Dehli Daredevils in Jaipur and he produced decent figures of 4-0-30-0 against a batting line-up that included Mahela Jayawardene, David Warner and Virender Sehwag.
Later that year, he emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the Champions League, claiming 12 wickets in five games at an average of 6.50. That performance led to a First-Class debut for Mumbai, but he only lasted two games.
Overall, Tambe has appeared in 61 domestic T20 games for Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai Cricket Association XI and IPL sides Gujarat Lions, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
He has picked up 67 wickets with a best of 4-15. He averages 22.82 and goes at an economy rate of 7.04. In 33 IPL games, Tambe took 28 wickets at 30.5.
Tambe was one of two Indian players at the CPL Draft this year. Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Asad Pathan went unsold.
CPL 2020 is set for August 18 to September 10 behind closed doors in Trinidad and Tobago. Barbados Tridents are the defending champions.
