Sunil Gavaskar Slams Sunrisers Leeds for Signing Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed, Claims Deal ‘Contributes to Indian Casualties’

Sunil Gavaskar, the first man in history to reach 10,000 Test runs and still one of Indian cricket’s most influential voices, has launched an extraordinary attack on Sunrisers Leeds after the English Hundred franchise paid £190,000 for Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed. Writing in his Mid-Day column, the 76-year-old accused the Indian-owned team of funnelling money to Islamabad that could ultimately be used to purchase arms against India.

“Ever since the Mumbai attacks in November 2008, Indian franchise owners have simply ignored Pakistani players for the IPL,” Gavaskar wrote. “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.”

Sunrisers Leeds, rebranded from Northern Superchargers, are controlled by the Sun Group—founded by media tycoon Kalanithi Maran and also the parent company of IPL outfit Sunrisers Hyderabad. Kaviya Maran represented the family firm at last week’s inaugural Hundred player auction in London, where Abrar Ahmed’s £190,000 price tag made the 27-year-old spinner one of the competition’s headline signings.

Gavaskar argues that any Indian entity, whether operating at home or abroad, must recognise the geopolitical stakes. “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.”

The criticism lands amid persistent cross-border tensions. India and Pakistan have not met in a bilateral cricket series since 2012-13, and Pakistani players have been unofficially barred from the IPL since 2009. A brief armed flare-up occurred as recently as 2025, keeping diplomatic relations fraught.

Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori, the former New Zealand captain, insisted after the auction that selections were made “purely on cricketing ability.” Gavaskar countered: “Daniel Vettori may not understand this simple dynamic… 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?”

The England and Wales Cricket Board, which operates The Hundred, declined to comment when approached. Sunrisers have also been contacted for a response.

Ahmed, capped 64 times for Pakistan across formats, is expected to bolster Sunrisers Leeds’ spin attack when the competition enters its fifth season this summer. Whether his presence will prompt wider repercussions for the franchise—or for Indian participation in UK domestic cricket—remains to be seen.