Sunil Gavaskar Slams SunRisers Leeds Over Abrar Ahmed Signing in The Hundred Auction !
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Sunil Gavaskar criticised SunRisers Leeds for signing Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred auction, warning Indian-owned franchises that such deals could spark fan backlash.
The signing of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed by SunRisers Leeds has sparked a major controversy, with Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar strongly criticizing the move and warning of potential backlash from Indian fans.
The deal, which took place during the inaugural The Hundred draft in London, saw Abrar Ahmed picked for £190,000 by the franchise. The development quickly triggered heated discussions across social media platforms and cricket circles in India.
What intensified the debate is that SunRisers Leeds is owned by an Indian group headed by Kavya Maran, whose company also owns Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League and Sunrisers Eastern Cape in South Africa’s SA20.
Controversy After The Hundred Auction
Abrar Ahmed’s selection by SunRisers Leeds came during the first-ever player draft for the men’s competition of The Hundred. Soon after the announcement, the decision began attracting criticism online.
The franchise’s account on X reportedly faced a flood of negative reactions, and the account was briefly suspended amid the online uproar.
Many critics questioned why an Indian-owned franchise would sign a Pakistani player when Pakistan cricketers have been absent from the IPL for over a decade.
Pakistan Players and the IPL Ban
Pakistani cricketers participated in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008 but have not been part of the tournament since.
Their exclusion followed the 2008 Mumbai attacks, after which political tensions between India and Pakistan led to stricter policies regarding sporting and cultural exchanges.
Since then, Indian franchises that own teams in overseas leagues have largely avoided signing Pakistani players, even where there were no formal restrictions.
The SunRisers Leeds decision therefore marked a significant departure from what has been an unwritten practice among Indian franchise owners.
Gavaskar’s Strong Criticism
Sunil Gavaskar voiced his concerns in a column published in Mid-Day, where he criticised the franchise for going ahead with the signing.
According to Gavaskar, the backlash from fans was not surprising given the historical and political context.
He argued that the financial payments made to Pakistani players could eventually contribute indirectly to Pakistan’s economy through taxation.
In his column, Gavaskar wrote that the money earned by Pakistani players ultimately becomes taxable income in their country. He suggested that such funds, once entering government systems, could indirectly contribute to defence spending.
The former India captain framed the issue in stark terms, questioning whether sporting success should come before national sensitivities.
Responsibility of Franchise Owners
Gavaskar also pointed out that while coaches or overseas staff might not fully understand the political sensitivities between India and Pakistan, franchise owners should be aware of them.
SunRisers Leeds is coached by Daniel Vettori, who previously coached Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.
Gavaskar suggested that Vettori, being from New Zealand, may not fully grasp the political context behind the controversy.
However, he argued that the responsibility ultimately rests with the franchise owners.
According to him, the ownership should have discouraged the signing, given the sensitivities involved.
Warning of Fan Boycott
Gavaskar also warned that the move could have consequences beyond social media criticism.
He suggested that Indian fans could stage protests during SunRisers Leeds matches in The Hundred and potentially boycott games involving the team.
The cricket legend said it would not be surprising if Indian supporters chose to stay away from stadiums to express their dissatisfaction with the decision.
Such demonstrations, he warned, could overshadow the tournament itself.
BCCI Says It Cannot Intervene
Meanwhile, Rajeev Shukla clarified that the Board of Control for Cricket in India has no authority to intervene in the matter.
Shukla explained that the signing took place in a foreign league, meaning the decision lies entirely with the franchise and the tournament organisers.
He added that the BCCI cannot regulate or influence player acquisitions made by teams in overseas competitions.
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Wider Debate on Overseas Leagues
The incident has also reignited discussions about Indian franchise ownership in global cricket leagues.
Over the past decade, several IPL franchises have expanded their presence into international competitions, including leagues in England, South Africa, the UAE and the Caribbean.
These teams often maintain similar branding and ownership structures across tournaments.
However, the SunRisers Leeds signing has shown that operating in international leagues can create situations where sporting decisions collide with political or national sensitivities.
What Happens Next?
As of now, there has been no official indication that SunRisers Leeds will reverse the decision to sign Abrar Ahmed.
Gavaskar, however, suggested that the franchise still has time to reconsider.
Whether the team chooses to stand by the signing or modify its approach remains to be seen, but the controversy has already sparked one of the biggest debates in cricket’s global franchise era.
For now, the episode highlights how deeply politics, national sentiment and sport remain intertwined particularly when it comes to India–Pakistan relations in cricket.
