While being a sportsperson is a profession that guarantees a luxurious lifestyle and financial safety for many players and their families, it is not always the case. The struggles of Vinod Kambli have exposed how people who enter sports but fail to make it big can have a lot of troubles thrown their way after their careers came to an end.
Kambli, who was once regarded as one of India’s most talented young players, recently revealed that he has been struggling financially and is solely dependent on the Board of Control of Cricket in India’s (BCCI) pension of around Rs 30,000 for retired cricketers.
Kambli has made an emotional plea to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to give him a coaching job. In a rather sensational claim, Kambli asserted that he will stop drinking alcohol immediately if his job requires him to do so. Kambli further stated he is only a social drinker and not someone who drinks alcohol regularly.
“There are rules and regulations which everyone has to follow. If there are any rules that don’t allow you to do certain things, everyone must follow them. I will stop it [drinking] immediately if told to do so…no problem at all!,” said Kambli to Mid-Day.
“I came into the CIC [Cricket Improvement Committee], but it was an honorary job. I went to the MCA for some help. I have a family to look after. I told the MCA many times that if you require me, I am there whether it is at the Wankhede Stadium or at BKC. Mumbai cricket has given me a lot. I owe my life to this game,” he added.
Kambli played a total of 17 Test matches and 104 ODIs for Team India. His last appearance for the national team came in a 50-over game against Sri Lanka in 2000. Kambli never played a Test match for India after 1995.
