New Delhi: Indian cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar slammed the owners of SunRisers Leeds over the signing of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed at The Hundred 2026 auction. In his column for Mid-Day, the former Indian skipper argued that Indian franchise owners signing a Pakistani player indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians.
Earlier in the last week, SunRisers Leeds signed Abrar Ahmed GBP 190,000, approximately Rs 2.34 crore after outbidding Trent Rockets. After the deal was over, the franchise owned by the Sun Group, an Indian conglomerate led by Kalanithi Mara, was under fire for buying a Pakistan player. CEO Kavya Maran alongside head coach Daniel Vettori were present at the auction table inn London.
What Gavaskar said
‘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,’ Gavaskar 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.
‘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,’ he wrote.
SunRisers Leeds will be led by England’s T20I captain and lethal batter Harry Brook. It marks the first time in many years that a franchise with Indian ownership links has actively recruited a Pakistani international.
The Hundred 2026 will begin on July 16 till August 21.