Sunil Gavaskar, one of India’s most respected cricket voices, has strongly condemned the decision by Sunrisers Leeds to sign Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed during last week’s Hundred draft. In a column for the Indian newspaper Mid-Day published on March 17, 2026, the former India captain claimed the acquisition “indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians.”
The comments represent the most high-profile criticism yet of the move by Sunrisers Leeds, a franchise owned by the Sun Group—the same media conglomerate that owns IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabad. The signing has sparked significant backlash on social media in India and raised fresh questions about cross-border sporting ties amid ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan.
Background to the Signing and Political Context
Sunrisers Leeds secured Abrar Ahmed’s services at the Hundred player draft held in London in early March 2026. The deal marked the first time a Pakistan player has been selected by one of the four Hundred franchises affiliated with IPL teams since the competition’s inception.
IPL franchises have not signed Pakistani players since 2009 due to political sensitivities between the two nations. Bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan has been suspended since 2007, with the two countries refusing to travel to tournaments hosted by the other. Recent encounters have also seen players avoid handshakes.
The India-Pakistan relationship deteriorated further following a four-day military conflict in April 2025, triggered by a deadly militant attack on tourists in India-administered Kashmir.
Gavaskar’s Core Argument
Gavaskar argued that fees paid to Pakistani players ultimately contribute to Pakistan’s government revenue through income tax. He stated this revenue supports military spending, which he linked to casualties on the Indian side.
“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,” Gavaskar wrote.
He extended the criticism to the ownership structure, asserting that “whether it is an Indian entity or an overseas subsidiary… if the owner is Indian then he or she is contributing to the Indian casualties. It’s as simple as that.”
Gavaskar suggested that Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori, a New Zealander, may not fully understand the political dynamic but argued the franchise owners should have discouraged the purchase.
ECB Position and Draft Context
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has declined to comment on Gavaskar’s remarks. Prior to the draft, the ECB reminded all eight Hundred teams of their anti-discrimination responsibilities and issued a joint statement affirming that “players must not be excluded on the grounds of nationality.”
Of the five Pakistan players in the men’s auction, three went unsold. Usman Tariq joined Birmingham Phoenix, while Abrar Ahmed became the first Pakistani signing for an IPL-affiliated Hundred franchise.
Broader Implications and Reactions
The signing has divided opinion. While some welcomed the move as a step toward normalizing sporting ties, others on social media in India expressed strong disapproval, echoing Gavaskar’s view that financial flows to Pakistani players indirectly support hostile actions.
Privately, several figures in Indian cricket had anticipated limited backlash beyond social media, expecting attention to shift once the IPL season begins later in March. Gavaskar’s intervention—given his stature as the first player to 10,000 Test runs and a key member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team—has amplified the debate significantly.
Sunrisers Hyderabad begin their IPL campaign against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 28, 2026. Whether the controversy affects commercial or fan sentiment remains to be seen.
Political and Sporting Tensions
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2007. The two nations routinely avoid bilateral fixtures at ICC events and have not toured each other’s countries for over 15 years.
Gavaskar’s column reflects a widely held view in parts of India that sporting and cultural engagements with Pakistan carry unacceptable risks while cross-border terrorism concerns persist.
The Hundred signing of Abrar Ahmed has reignited this debate at a time when India-Pakistan cricketing relations remain frozen. Whether it leads to broader policy changes among IPL-linked franchises or remains an isolated controversy will become clearer in the coming weeks.
