Gavaskar criticises Sunrisers’ Abrar signing

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has said Sunrisers Leeds’ signing of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed “indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians”.

Gavaskar’s comments are the most high-profile criticism of Sunrisers’ deal for Abrar at last week’s Hundred auction.

Leeds are owned by the Sun Group, also owners of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL). IPL teams have not been permitted to sign Pakistan players since 2009 because of ongoing political tensions between the two countries.

In securing Abrar at the auction, Sunrisers allayed fears that the four Hundred franchises affiliated to IPL teams would avoid signing Pakistan players.

There has been some backlash towards Sunrisers on social media, followed by Gavaskar’s column for Indian newspaper Mid-Day.

“The furore created by the acquisition of a Pakistani player by the Indian owner of a franchise in The Hundred is hardly surprising,” said Gavaskar.

“Ever since the Mumbai attacks in November 2008, Indian franchise owners have simply ignored Pakistani players for the IPL.

“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.”

BBC Sport has contacted Gavaskar and Sunrisers Leeds. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has declined to comment.

India and Pakistan engaged in a four-day military conflict in April of last year following a deadly militant attack on tourists in India-administered Kashmir, further deteriorating their sporting relationship.

The two countries have not met in a bilateral series since 2007 and now have a policy of not travelling to international tournaments the other is hosting. The teams have declined to shake hands in recent international fixtures.

Following the signing of Abrar, there was a negative reaction to Sunrisers Leeds on social media. The team’s X account was temporarily suspended on Friday morning, though that is believed to be down to an unrelated technical problem.

But the intervention of Gavaskar, one of the most important figures in the history of Indian cricket, demonstrates the strength of feeling in some quarters.

The 76-year-old was the first man to reach 10,000 runs in Test cricket and was part of the India team that famously shocked West Indies in the 1983 World Cup final.

Since ending his playing career in 1987, he has become an outspoken voice in the media, including working for the BBC’s Test Match Special.

The Sun Group is a media organisation founded by Kalanithi Maran. His daughter Kaviya was present at the Hundred auction and led the bidding for Abrar.

Following the auction, Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori, a New Zealander, said he had not been given any instructions to avoid specific players.

Gavaskar’s criticism centred on the Sunrisers ownership and Vettori, as he continued: “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 said he understood Vettori may not have understood the dynamic but that the franchise owner should have discouraged the purchase.

Sunrisers Hyderabad are due to play in the opening match of the new IPL season, away to defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on 28 March.

“There’s still time to undo the wrong and hopefully wiser counsels will prevail,” Gavaskar added.

In February, sources told BBC Sport that the four IPL-linked Hundred franchises were considering avoiding the signing of Pakistan players.

The ECB subsequently wrote to all eight teams to remind them of their responsibilities around anti-discrimination. The governing body then released a joint statement alongside the franchises saying “players must not be excluded on the grounds of nationality”.

There were two Pakistan players – Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal – in the auction for the women’s Hundred.