Lalit Modi and Kavya Maran NEW DELHI: The storm surrounding Abrar Ahmed’s signing for The Hundred continued to build after former IPL chairman Lalit Modi released a pointed message that appeared to target Kavya Maran and her franchise Sunrisers Leeds.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Sunrisers Leeds, owned by the same group as Sunrisers Hyderabad, picked up Abrar for £190,000 (approx Rs 2.34 crore) in the inaugural men’s hundred auction in London. The move has sparked massive backlash in India given the long-standing absence of Pakistani players from the ecosystems associated with the IPL.
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Jay Shah calls 2019 to 2026 as the golden era of Indian cricket Without naming anyone directly, Lalit Modi wrote on X: “Investing 2.34 crores in a Pakistani player when the fans are already on edge? I know a thing or two about managing optics and building empires. Call me.”The controversy even led to the temporary suspension of the Sunrisers Leeds social media account amid the outrage, underlining the extent of the public backlash.Resistance, political overtones and Gavaskar’s remarksThe signing also reignited the political sensitivities associated with India-Pakistan relations. Pakistani players have not featured in the IPL since its inaugural season in 2008, following the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the subsequent diplomatic fallout.The debate escalated after Sunil Gavaskar criticized the move, calling it an indirect way of funding the Pakistan Army – remarks that drew sharp reactions from across the cricketing community.Pakistani-born English cricketer Azeem Rafiq criticized Gavaskar’s comments, writing: “This is absolutely ridiculous and should be condemned…disgusting stuff.”Despite the uproar, a telecomasia.net report indicated that Abrar remains undeterred. Ranked third in the ICC T20I bowler rankings, the enigmatic spinner is focusing on his career and opportunities in global leagues.“The buzz over Abrar’s signing is not unexpected but he is not losing sleep over the fuss,” sources close to the Pakistan Cricket Board said.The franchise stands firmly in the middle of ECB scrutinySunrisers Leeds coach Daniel Vettori defended the decision, saying Abrar was among the few best overseas spinners after they missed out on Adil Rashid.“I’m very happy to get him,” Vettori said, backing the selection purely on cricketing merit.With tensions between India and Pakistan still tense following recent geopolitical flare-ups, Abrar’s signing has become more than just a cricketing decision.
