‘Hardly Surprising’: Sunil Gavaskar Explains Backlash Over Sunrisers Leeds Signing Abrar Ahmed

Sunrisers Leeds, an Indian-owned franchise, sparked outrage by signing Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed at The Hundred auction. Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar sharply criticized the decision, arguing that the player's fee indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians, placing the responsibility on the Indian owner.

Former India captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar opened up on the outrage and backlash against Sunrisers Leeds over the acquisition of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed at the recently concluded The Hundred Auction, which took place at Piccadilly Lights in London on Thursday, March 12.

The Sunrisers Leeds, the sister team of the Sunrisers Hyderabad, sparked a massive outrage on social media after the CEO Kavya Maran-led franchise signed Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 (INR 2.34 Crore) at the auction. Ahead of the Hundred Auction, it was reported that the IPL-linked franchise would not bid for the Pakistani cricketers due to political sensitivities and past tensions with India, especially post-Pahalgam terror attack.

However, after the England and Wales Cricket Board’s clear stance on non-discrimination and open player selection, Sunrisers Leeds proceeded to bid for and sign Abrar Ahmed, challenging the previously assumed restrictions.

‘Funds Contribute to Deaths of Indian Soldiers and Civilians’

Sunrisers Leeds’ acquisition of Abrar Ahmed created a furore on social media, with many questioning the decision given the sensitive history between India and Pakistan. Former batting legend Sunil Gavaskar gave his sharp take on the controversy, calling the backlash “hardly surprising.”

In his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar wrote that the fees paid to a Pakistani player go to their government and are used to buy arms and weapons, which indirectly contribute to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians, making the backlash understandable.

“The furore created by the acquisition of a Pakistani player by the Indian owner of a franchise in The Hundred is hardly surprising. Ever since the Mumbai attacks in November 2008, Indian franchise owners have simply ignored Pakistani players for the IPL,” the 125-Test veteran wrote.

“Although belated, 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 added.

Except Sunrisers Leeds, other Indian-owned franchises, including Manchester Super Giants (RPSG Group), MI London (Reliance), and Southern Brave (GMR Group), had largely steered clear of signing Pakistani players at the auction, but Leeds’ decision to pick Abrar defied that trend and triggered widespread criticism online, which led to their X handle (formerly Twitter) getting suspended before being resorted.

Indian Owner Bears Responsibility

Further penning on the controversy, Sunil Gavaskar stated that the Indian owner is directly contributing to Indian casualties by proceeding with the signing despite the sensitive India-Pakistan context. He added that Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Daniel Vettori may not grasp the understanding of the situation, but the responsibility ultimately rests with the Indian owner to avoid such controversial decisions.

“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. It’s as simple as that,” Gavaskar wrote.

“Daniel Vettori, the coach of the team in The Hundred who hails from New Zealand, may not understand this simple dynamic, and so may have wanted some Pakistani players in his team, but surely the owner should have had an understanding of the situation and discouraged the purchase. Is winning a tournament in a format that no other country plays in much more important than Indian lives?” he added.

Abrar Ahmed was one of only two out of 14 Pakistani players to have been signed by the franchises at the auction. The other being Usman Tariq, who Birmingham Phoenix acquired for £140,000 (INR 1.72 Crore).

The Birmingham Phoenix is not the Indian-owned franchise, making Abrar Ahmed one of the very few Pakistani players acquired at the auction, which further fueled the controversy around Sunrisers Leeds’ decision.