NEW DELHI: The signing of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed by Sunrisers Leeds, an outfit owned by the Sun TV Network headed by Kavya Maran, has sparked a major controversy in India, drawing a sharp reaction from legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar. The former captain said Indian-owned franchises should refrain from signing Pakistan players, arguing that such payments could indirectly contribute to harm against India.
Abrar was bought for £190,000 during the inaugural men’s auction of The Hundred in London, making him the first Pakistani cricketer to be picked by an Indian-owned team in the competition. The move triggered strong backlash online, with the franchise’s social media accounts facing heavy criticism and even a temporary suspension.
Writing in his Mid-day column, Gavaskar said the outrage was understandable given the long-standing stance taken by Indian cricket since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, after which Pakistan players were effectively barred from the Indian Premier League. “The furore created by the acquisition of a Pakistani player by the Indian owner of a franchise in The Hundred is hardly surprising,” Gavaskar wrote.
He argued that payments made to Pakistan players ultimately flow back to their government through taxes. “The realisation that the fees that they pay to a Pakistani player, who then pays income tax to his government which buys arms and weapons, indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians is making Indian entities refrain from even considering having Pakistani artistes and sportspersons,” he said.
Gavaskar added that whether the payment comes from an Indian company or an overseas subsidiary, the responsibility still lies with the owner. “If the owner is Indian then he or she is contributing to the Indian casualties. It’s as simple as that,” he wrote, questioning whether success in a franchise tournament was more important than national sentiment.
He also warned that fans could express their anger publicly. “It won’t be a surprise that for every game that this team plays there will be massive demonstrations by Indian fans protesting at this hard-to-believe buying,” Gavaskar said, adding that crowds might even boycott matches despite the presence of star players.
Meanwhile, Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori defended the decision as a purely cricketing one, explaining that the franchise moved for Abrar after missing out on England leg-spinner Adil Rashid during the auction. According to Vettori, Abrar’s variations and ability to strike in powerplays made him an attractive option, particularly at Headingley.
India board vice-president Rajeev Shukla also clarified that the Board of Control for Cricket in India cannot intervene in the matter as the signing involves a foreign league, leaving the final call to the franchise itself.
