'Contributing to Indian casualties' - Sunil Gavaskar lambasts Sunrisers Leeds' Abrar Ahmed signing

Former India batter Sunil Gavaskar has added more fuel to the controversy surrounding Sunrisers Leeds signing of Abrar Ahmed during The Hundred auction earlier this month. 

Sunrisers Leeds, previously named Northern Superchargers, are now under the same owners as Sunrisers Hyderabad. They secured Abrar's service for GBP 190,000, making him the tenth-most expensive signing at the auction. 

Gavaskar, meanwhile, has opposed the signing of Ahmed by an Indian-owned franchise, stating that the money spent indirectly funds terrorism which leads to the tensions between Pakistan and India. The legendary batter stated that sometimes there are things a lot more important than just winning a T20 tournament. 

"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. 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," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day. 

Gavaksar believes that the owner and management behind Sunrisers Leeds should have intervened and prevented coach Daniel Vettori from signing Ahmed.

"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. 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?” Gavaskar added.

Ahmed, along with spinner Usman Tariq, were the only two Pakistan players picked at The Hundred auction. Tariq was signed by the Birmingham Phoenix for GBP 140,000. 

Sunrisers Leeds, owned by Sun Group, has caused a lot of unrest amongst Indian cricket fans. Following the signing of Ahmed, the team’s X account was suspended with the controversy still fresh in people’s memory.