Sports16 March, 20264 min read
Gavaskar slams Sunrisers Leeds for signing Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed
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Sunrisers Leeds signed Abrar Ahmed, a Pakistan spinner, in The Hundred 2026 auction. Gavaskar said the deal indirectly contributes to deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians.
Controversial Signing
Former India cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar has launched a strong condemnation of Sunrisers Leeds, the Indian-owned franchise that signed Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed for The Hundred 2026 tournament. The criticism stems from the sensitive political relationship between India and Pakistan, particularly following the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. Gavaskar asserted that the backlash against the franchise was 'hardly surprising' given the historical precedent of Indian franchise owners avoiding Pakistani players in the IPL.
“Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has voiced strong disapproval of Sunrisers Leeds signing Pakistani cricketer Abrar Ahmed for The Hundred. Gavaskar believes Indian franchise owners should avoid Pakistani players due to the sensitive political climate.”
The franchise, owned by Chennai-based Sun Group through Kavya Maran, secured Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 (approximately Rs 2.34 crore) during the auction held in London on Thursday. The signing immediately drew criticism from prominent figures in Indian cricket, reflecting the strength of feeling in some quarters.
Financial Arguments
Gavaskar's criticism centered on the financial implications of signing Pakistani players, arguing that the fees paid ultimately contribute to funds that could be used against Indian interests. In his column for Mid-Day, he explained that the money trail from player payments to government tax revenue creates a moral dilemma for Indian owners. The former India captain made the controversial claim that 'whether it is an Indian entity or an overseas subsidiary of the entity that is making the payment, if the owner is Indian, then he or she is contributing to the Indian casualties.'
This argument suggests that the money paid to Pakistani players eventually reaches the Pakistani government through taxation, which could then be used to purchase arms and weapons that harm Indian soldiers and civilians. Gavaskar presented this as a straightforward moral calculation where sporting success should not outweigh national security concerns.
Ownership Dynamics
The controversy involves a complex ownership structure where the Sun Group, a Chennai-based media organization founded by Kalanithi Maran, operates franchises in both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and The Hundred tournament. Kavya Maran, Kalanithi's daughter, was present at the Hundred auction and led the bidding for Abrar Ahmed. The Sunrisers Leeds franchise is essentially a sister team to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, though it operates in the English tournament.
“SunRisers Leeds secured Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 (approximately Rs 2.34 crore) during the auction held in London on Thursday. The franchise is owned by the Sun Group, led by businessman Kalanithi Maran, with his daughter Kavya Maran representing the team at the auction table alongside head coach Daniel Vettori.”
Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand head coach of Sunrisers Leeds, revealed that Abrar was not the only Pakistani player on their radar, suggesting the coaching staff had been considering multiple Pakistani talent options. Gavaskar acknowledged that Vettori might not fully understand the political dynamics between India and Pakistan, but he placed the primary responsibility on the franchise owners who should have intervened to prevent the controversial signing.
Fan Backlash
The signing triggered immediate backlash on social media, with Sunrisers Leeds facing significant criticism from Indian cricket fans. The franchise's X account was temporarily suspended on Friday morning, though this was reportedly due to an unrelated technical problem rather than the controversy. Privately, some figures in the Indian cricket community had initially believed the backlash would be limited to social media and would ease by the time Sunrisers Hyderabad participates in the new IPL season at the end of March.
However, Gavaskar's intervention, given his status as one of the most important figures in Indian cricket history, demonstrated the depth of feeling on the issue. In his column, Gavaskar went so far as to predict that 'for every game this team plays – whether at home or away – there will be massive demonstrations by Indian fans protesting this hard-to-believe purchase.' He urged the franchise to release Abrar before the season begins, suggesting there was still time 'to undo the wrong and hopefully wiser counsels will prevail.'
Broader Context
The controversy exists within a broader historical and regulatory context of strained India-Pakistan cricket relations. International cricket matches between the two nations have become increasingly tense, with teams declining to shake hands in recent fixtures. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had previously warned against discrimination based on nationality, writing to all eight franchises to remind them of their responsibilities around anti-discrimination.
“The teams have declined to shake hands in recent international fixtures. Following the signing of Abrar, there was a negative reaction to Sunrisers Leeds on social media. The ECB subsequently wrote to all eight teams to remind them of their responsibilities around anti-discrimination.”
The governing body subsequently released a joint statement alongside the franchises stating that 'players must not be excluded on the grounds of nationality.' Despite this stance, sources told BBC Sport in February that the four IPL-linked Hundred franchises were considering avoiding the signing of Pakistan players.
In the recent Hundred auction, three of the five Pakistan players in the men's auction were unsold, while Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal were among the Pakistan players in the women's auction. This suggests a continuing trend of reluctance toward Pakistani players, even as official policies maintain an inclusive approach.