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.
Privately, prominent figures in the Indian game believed the backlash would be limited to fans on social media and would ease by the time Sunrisers Hyderabad take part in the new IPL season at the end of this month.
