Sunil Gavaskar has launched a scathing attack on SunRisers owners Leeds over their decision to sign Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred 2026 auction. The former Indian captain claimed that the Indian owners of the franchise have a responsibility to refrain from signing Pakistani players, given the ongoing tension between the two countries.
Writing in his column for Noon Day, Gavaskar did not mince words. He questioned whether winning the tournament was more important than the lives of Indian soldiers and civilians.
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Reason for Gavaskar’s criticism
Gavaskar’s argument centers on the financial trail. They claim that the fees paid to Pakistani players indirectly fund the purchases of arms and weapons that contribute to Indian casualties. In his view, this logic applies irrespective of whether the payment is made by an Indian entity or a foreign subsidiary.
“The uproar created by the acquisition of a Pakistani player by an Indian franchise owner 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. Albeit belatedly, the realization that the fees they pay to a Pakistani player who then pays and pays arms and death tax to his Indian government contributes to his Indian government’s income tax civilians, forces Indian entities to refrain from even considering having Pakistani artists and athletes, whether it is an Indian entity or an overseas branch of the entity making the payment, if the owner is an Indian, then he or she is contributing to the Indian victims, it’s that simple,” he wrote.
Gavaskar acknowledged that head coach Daniel Vettori, a New Zealander, may not fully appreciate the dynamic.
He didn’t mince his words to the ownership, adding: “Daniel Vettori, the coach of the Hundred team who is 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 understood the situation and discouraged the purchase. Is winning a tournament in a format that no other country plays more important than lives in India?”
What happened at the auction?
SunRisers Leeds secured Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred 2026 auction on Thursday 12 March. They outbid Trent Rockets to sign the Pakistan spinner for £190,000, around Rs 2.34 million. The franchise is owned by the Sun Group, an Indian conglomerate led by Kalanithi Maran.
Kavya Maran, who serves as the CEO of the franchise, was present at the auction table at Piccadilly Lights in London along with head coach Vettori. SunRisers Leeds, who will be captained by England T20I skipper Harry Brook, have gone all out to land Abrar. This is the first time in many years that a franchise with Indian ownership links has actively recruited a Pakistani international partner.
Orientation sign with split reception
The signing provoked sharply contrasting reactions. In the UK, the move was widely hailed as a victory for meritocracy. In India, i.ehis reaction was harsh and many fans called for a boycott of the SunRisers brand.
The controversy also highlights the growing influence of IPL ownership in The Hundred. Four of the tournament’s eight franchises, Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and SunRisers Leeds, are now at least part-owned by the companies that control the IPL teams.
For Gavaskar, it’s not about cricket, it’s about conscience. And in his opinion SunRisers Leeds owners got it wrong.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
16 Mar 2026 16:28 IST
