Intro
Indian legend criticises controversial Hundred deal involving Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed
New Delhi
Sunil Gavaskar has strongly criticised an Indian-owned franchise for signing Pakistani cricketer Abrar Ahmed in England’s The Hundred, calling the move insensitive amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
Players from Pakistan have not featured in the Indian Premier League since 2009 due to strained diplomatic relations. Despite speculation of an informal “shadow ban” at the recent Hundred auction in London, franchises linked to IPL teams did not refrain from signing Pakistani players.
The controversy intensified after Sunrisers Leeds, associated with Sunrisers Hyderabad, secured Abrar Ahmed for £190,000. The move triggered widespread backlash on social media, with many questioning the ethics of engaging Pakistani players through Indian-owned entities.
In a strongly worded column, Gavaskar alleged that payments made to Pakistani players could indirectly benefit Pakistan’s state machinery. He argued that taxes paid by such players to their government could contribute to military funding, thereby affecting Indian soldiers and civilians. He further stressed that ownership links to Indian businesses make such transactions particularly concerning.
Other franchises in The Hundred, including MI London, Manchester Super Giants and Southern Brave, also have ownership ties to IPL stakeholders. However, only one other Pakistani player, Usman Tariq, was picked during the auction, by Birmingham Phoenix.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has maintained that all franchise selections are based purely on performance and cricketing merit, dismissing political considerations.
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series for over a decade, meeting only in international tournaments. Referring to the current situation, Gavaskar expressed hope that the decision could still be reconsidered, urging stakeholders to act with greater awareness and responsibility.
