The controversy surrounding the signing of Abrar Ahmed for The Hundred 2026 has gone beyond cricket decisions and now there are heated exchanges between the former players. What started as a strong criticism of SunRisers Leeds by Sunil Gavaskar has now drawn an equally direct response from Pakistan-born cricketer Azeem Rafiq, adding a new dimension to an already polarizing debate.
Rafiq hit out at Gavaskar on social media, calling his remarks “ridiculous” and “disgraceful”, while also asking if the Indian great had taken a similar stand in other contexts. He further noted that past success on the field does not justify such comments as the surrounding debate Abrar Ahmed’s signing continues to go from strength to strength.
Image: X/ Azeem Rafiq Image: X/ Azeem Rafiq
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WHY IS GAVASKAR CRITICIZED?
Sunil Gavaskar was against SunRisers owners Leeds for signing Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred 2026 auction. In his Mid-Day column, he said that payments to Pakistani players go to the government through taxes, which he says indirectly fund arms purchases.
He added that this concern applies even when payments are made through overseas subsidiaries. Gavaskar also questioned whether winning the tournament was more important than Indian lives.
He noted that head coach Daniel Vettori, who hails from New Zealand, may not fully understand the situation, but said the responsibility lies with the franchise owners.
Abrar Ahmed was signed for £190,000 (Rs 2.34 million approx). The move sparked backlash in India. The ECB has previously warned teams to adhere to anti-discrimination rules amid concerns about franchises shunning or selecting Pakistani players.
WHO IS AZEEM RAFIQ?
Azeem Rafiq is a Pakistani born off-spinner who has represented England at the youth level. Born in Karachi in 1991, he captained Yorkshire in 2012 and was also a former England under-19 captain.
Rafiq later became a central figure in uncovering a racist scandal in Yorkshire. In 2020, he accused institutional racism at the club, saying he faced consistent abuse, including racist remarks about his Pakistani heritage during his time at the club.
In 2021, Yorkshire acknowledged that Rafiq had been a “victim of racial harassment and bullying”, with an independent panel upholding seven of the 43 allegations he had made.
The case caused widespread outrage in English cricket, leading to significant changes in coaching and administrative staff at the club. Rafiq also testified before a UK parliamentary committee in November 2021, calling for accountability and reform within the system.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
17 March 2026 18:59 IST
