Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has strongly criticised Sunrisers Leeds for signing Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed for the upcoming season of the Men’s Hundred. Gavaskar questioned the ethics behind the franchise’s decision, saying that financial transactions involving Pakistani players indirectly contribute to harm against Indian soldiers and civilians. The Sunrisers Leeds are owned by the Sun Group, which also owns Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. 

During last week’s auction for The Hundred, Abrar Ahmed was signed for £190,000. His signing sparked widespread outrage given the strained relations between both nations. Notably, since 2009, Pakistan players have been absent from the IPL, and the two nations have not played a bilateral series since the 2012–13 season. 

"The furore created by the acquisition of a Pakistani player by the Indian owner of a franchise in The Hundred is hardly surprising. Ever since the Mumbai attacks in November 2008, Indian franchise owners have simply ignored Pakistani players for the IPL," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day.

"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."

Gavaskar further said that Sunrisers Leeds' management should have had precise communication with head coach Daniel Vettori.

"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. Daniel Vettori, the coach of the team in The Hundred who hails from New Zealand, may not understand this simple dynamic and so may have wanted some Pakistani players in his team, but surely the owner should have had an understanding of the situation and discouraged the purchase. Is winning a tournament in a format that no other country plays in much more important than Indian lives?” Gavaskar added.