The signing of Pakistani bowler Abrar Ahmed by Hundred franchise Sunrisers bucked the trend for Indian-owned teams.
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Published March 17, 2026
Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has claimed that Britain’s Indian-owned Hundred franchise’s signing of Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed is “indirectly contributing to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians”.
Players from Pakistan have not participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2009 due to deep-rooted diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
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Pakistani players who participated in the first Hundred Auction in London were subject to ‘shadow bans’, leading to speculation that IPL teams may reject their bids.
That didn’t happen, but Sunrisers Leeds, who are part of the same group that controls IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad, faced intense backlash on social media after signing Abler last week and paying him 190,000 pounds ($252,000) for his services.
Former India captain Gavaskar (76) launched a fierce attack in his weekend column in the Indian newspaper Mid-Day.
“The fees they pay to Pakistani athletes pay income tax to the Pakistani government, which buys arms and weapons, and indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians,” he wrote.
“Whether the payment is made by an Indian corporation or its foreign subsidiary, if the owner is Indian, then that owner is contributing to Indian victims.”
Three other Hundred franchises, MI London, Manchester Super Giants and Southern Brave, are at least partially owned by companies that manage IPL teams.
Usman Tariq, the only Pakistani player to be sold at the auction, was snapped up by American-backed Birmingham Phoenix.
The England and Wales Cricket Board issued a statement last month saying all eight franchises taking part in the 100-ball competition would make selections based solely on performance.
India and Pakistan, who had a deadly clash in May last year, have not played a bilateral series in more than a decade and have only faced each other in world or regional tournaments.
Gavaskar, the first batsman to reach 10,000 in Test cricket, added: “There is still time to right the wrongs. I hope the wise advice prevails.”
