Abrar Ahmed and Sunil Gavaskar NEW DELHI: A fresh controversy has erupted in the cricketing world after Pakistan-born English cricketer Azeem Rafiq came down heavily on batting great Sunil Gavaskar for his remarks about Indian franchises signing Pakistani players in overseas leagues.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!The debate was sparked after Abrar Ahmed was picked by Sunrisers Leeds for £190,000 in The Hundred auction, becoming the first Pakistani cricketer to join an Indian-owned team in the competition. The move sparked backlash among Indian fans and prompted Gavaskar to reconsider his strong opinion.
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In his midday column, Gavaskar said that Indian franchises should refrain from signing Pakistani players, arguing that such financial transactions could indirectly contribute to the detriment of India. “The uproar … is not surprising,” he wrote, adding that player payments ultimately go to their governments through taxes that could be used for military purposes. “If the owner is Indian, then he is contributing to Indian victims. It’s as simple as that,” he said, warning of possible fan protests and boycotts.However, Rafiq did not hold back in his reply. He shared Gavaskar’s comments on social media and wrote, “This is absolutely ridiculous and should be condemned… How are these comments acceptable? I don’t care how many runs you have scored. Nasty stuff from Gavaskar.” His vehement response quickly gained momentum, adding another layer to the already heated debate. After the Hundred auction, Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori defended the signing, insisting it was purely based on cricketing needs. He revealed that the franchise turned to Abrar after missing out on England leg-spinner Adil Rashid, highlighting the Pakistan spinner’s variation and effectiveness, especially in the power plays.Meanwhile, Rajeev Shukla clarified that the BCCI has no jurisdiction over franchise decisions in foreign leagues, leaving the matter entirely up to the team management.The episode once again highlighted the complex intersection of sport, politics and public sentiment, with Rafiq’s outspoken criticism ensuring Gavaskar’s remarks remained firmly in the limelight.
