New Delhi: The signing of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed by Kavya Malan-led Sunrisers Leeds has sparked a major controversy in India, eliciting a strong reaction from legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar. The former captain said Indian-owned teams should not sign Pakistani players, arguing that such payments could indirectly harm India’s interests.
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Abrar was bought for £190,000 at the inaugural men’s cricket auction in London, making him the first Pakistani cricketer to be selected by an India-owned team in the competition. The move sparked a backlash online, with the team’s social media accounts facing heavy criticism and even being temporarily suspended.
Gavaskar wrote in his mid-day column that the anger was understandable given the stance taken by Indian cricket for so long since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, with Pakistani players effectively banned from playing in the Indian Premier League. “The uproar over the Indian owner of the Centurion franchise acquiring a Pakistani player is not surprising,” Gavaskar wrote.
He believes payments to Pakistani players ultimately flow back to the government through taxes. “The fees they pay to Pakistani players, who then pay income tax to the government that buys arms and weapons, indirectly leads to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians, which makes Indian entities no longer even consider hiring Pakistani artists and athletes,” he said.
Regardless of whether the payment comes from an Indian company or an overseas subsidiary, the responsibility remains with the owner, Gavaskar added. “If the owner is Indian, then he or she inflicts Indian casualties. It’s as simple as that,” he wrote, questioning whether franchise tournament success was more important than national sentiment.
He also warned fans that it was okay to express their anger publicly. “It’s not surprising that every game this team plays there are massive demonstrations by Indian fans to protest against this unbelievable purchase,” Gavaskar said, adding that spectators might even boycott games despite the presence of star players.
Meanwhile, Leeds Sunrisers head coach Daniel Vettori defended the decision, saying it was purely a cricketing one and explained that the team picked up Abrar after missing out on England leg-spinner Adil Rashid during the auction. According to Vettori, Abrar’s variety and ability to hit hard make him an attractive option, particularly at Headingley.
Indian board vice-president Rajiv Shukla also clarified that the Board of Control for Cricket in India cannot intervene in the matter as the signing involves a foreign league and the final decision is left to the team itself.
