Pravin Tambe in trouble over T20 match with banned Mohammad Ashraful

Rajasthan Royals leg-spinner Pravin Tambe may be in a spot of trouble over his participation alongside a banned cricketer.

The spinner participated with banned Bangladesh batsman Mohammad Ashraful in a private T20 tournament in the USA, reports  ESPNCricinfo . Ashraful is currently serving a five-year ban after being found guilty of fixing during the 2013 Bangladesh premier League.

Tambe reportedly played with the banner cricketer in the Laurel Hill Cricket tournament in New Jersey. Tambe played for South Gujarat CC Jrs against Bulls on 27 July.

However, Tambe said that he didn’t know it was a competitive tournament and that he had been to New York to visit his friends. He also said that he didn’t have any idea that Ashraful was taking part in the match until he was on the field.

Two other Bangladesh players - Elias Sunny and Nadif Chowdhury also took part in the tournament, and it turns out the Bangladesh Cricket Board wasn’t aware of their participation as well.

Tambe told ESPNCricinfo that he had been under the impression that it was a practice match and realised  that Ashraful was playing only after he was on the field.

“I told my friends and the organisers I would not like to play in any other game after the incident,” he told the website.

Tambe’s participation in the event alongside a banned player could land him in trouble since it turns out he hadn’t sought permission from the BCCI or Mumbai Cricket Association to take part in the tournament. The spinner has said he didn’t ask for permission since he didn’t know it was an official tournament.

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