‘Is winning worth Indian lives?’ Sunil Gavaskar slams Kavya Maran’s SunRisers Leeds for signing Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has criticised the decision by SunRisers Leeds to sign Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed during the 2026 auction of The Hundred, saying Indian franchise owners should avoid recruiting players from Pakistan given the sensitive political relationship between the two countries.

Gavaskar questioned whether sporting success should outweigh national concerns, arguing that Indian-owned entities must consider the wider implications of such decisions, as the money earned by players could ultimately contribute to Pakistan’s government revenues.

“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.


Gavaskar said the issue extends beyond cricketing merit, pointing to the financial chain that begins with player payments and eventually contributes to government tax revenue.

"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," he wrote.

"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,” Gavaskar added.

The former India opener also said that while team management may evaluate signings purely from a cricketing perspective, franchise owners must consider broader national implications.

“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?” he noted.

SunRisers Leeds signed Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 (around Rs 2.34 crore) during the auction held in London on Thursday. The franchise is owned by the Sun Group, led by businessman Kalanithi Maran, with his daughter Kavya Maran representing the team at the auction table alongside head coach Vettori.

The signing has drawn criticism from some fans in India, with several on social media calling the move anti-national.

Gavaskar also warned that the impact of the decision could be felt during the upcoming Indian Premier League season, suggesting that fans may protest or boycott matches.

"It won't be a surprise that for every game that this team plays, whether at home or away, there will be massive demonstrations by Indian fans protesting at this hard-to-believe buying. In fact, it won't be a surprise that despite having some of the most attractive stroke makers in their team, the crowds may stay away and show their disapproval of the decision," Gavaskar concluded.