Sachin Tendulkar's childhood friend and former India cricketer Vinod Kambli has opened up on the financial crisis he is currently facing and looking for an additional income to look after his family. The 50-year-old is largely dependent on his BCCI pension of INR 30,000, after the pandemic.
Kambli has thanked the administrators from the Board of Control for Cricket in India for the support they have provided as it is the only source of income for the retired left-handed batter.
"I'm a retired cricketer, who is completely dependent on the pension from the BCCI. My only source of income at the moment is from the BCCI, for which I'm really thankful and grateful. It takes care of my family," he told Mumbai-based daily Mid-Day in an interview.
He went on to thank his childhood friend and Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar for being a good friend always as the latter gave Kambli mentorship role at the Tendulkar Middlesex Global Academy assignment. Later, Kambli left the assignment citing travelling issues.
"Sachin knows everything, but I'm not expecting anything from him. He gave me the Tendulkar Middlesex Global Academy assignment. I was very happy. He has been a very good friend. He has always been there for me. I would go to the Shardashram school, where I would eat food when the team met. That's where Sachin stood up as a friend. I came from a very poor family."
Kambli is seeking a job around cricket in Mumbai and has asked the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for some help as he 'owes his life to cricket'.
He said, "I need assignments, where I can work with youngsters. I know Mumbai have retained Amol Muzumdar as their head coach, but if anywhere I'm needed, I'm there. I was seeking help from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). I came into the Cricket Improvement Committee, but it was an honorary job. I went to the MCA for some help. I've a family to look after. I told the MCA many times that if you require me, I'm there whether it is at the Wankhede Stadium or at Bandra Kurla Complex. Mumbai cricket has given me a lot. I owe my life to this game."
Vinod Kambli has played 17 Tests and 104 One-Day Internationals for India in his cricketing career and scored 2477 runs and 1084 runs respectively.