Overview:
He wrote that compensation given to a Pakistani player indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians and noted that Indian franchises have historically avoided such signings since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
A storm has erupted online following the signing of Pakistan mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed by Sunrisers Leeds, an Indian-owned franchise, during The Hundred 2026 auction earlier this month. Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar emerged as one of the most vocal critics, questioning the decision to pay the bowler £190,000.
The controversy drew attention from former IPL chairman Lalit Modi, who took to social media to address Kavya Maran, Executive Director of Sun TV Network and co-owner of the Sunrisers franchise. Sharing a clip related to the debate, Modi wrote: “Investing Rs 2.34 crore on a Pakistani player when the fans are already on edge? I know a thing or two about managing optics and building empires. Call me.”
Controversy over #players has hit @thehundred with the @sunrisersleeds pic.twitter.com/xBgnmwcgf4
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) March 16, 2026
The post was captioned: “Controversy over players has hit The Hundred with the Sunrisers Leeds.”
Abrar’s signing has sparked criticism from segments of the Indian public, particularly because Pakistani players have long been absent from Indian-managed leagues. The ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan have restricted cricketing interactions largely to ICC tournaments for over ten years.
The signing of Abrar Ahmed by Sunrisers Leeds has ignited one of the most heated debates in recent cricketing history, drawing reactions from fans, former players, and cricket administrators alike.
The ECB, which manages The Hundred, had earlier cautioned franchises against any discrimination based on nationality, warning that “strict action” would be taken if rules were breached. In the recent auction, Abrar Ahmed was one of two Pakistani players to be snapped up, with Usman Tariq joining Birmingham Phoenix. Importantly, this marks the first instance of an IPL-linked franchise signing a Pakistan player for an overseas league.
In his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar strongly criticised the move, highlighting the broader consequences of payments. “It has become clear that paying a Pakistani player funds contributes to an attack on Indian soldiers and civilians, which is forcing Indian organisations to hold back.”
He wrote that compensation given to a Pakistani player indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians and noted that Indian franchises have historically avoided such signings since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Gavaskar also raised questions about the accountability of Indian owners abroad. “Whether it is an Indian entity or an overseas subsidiary. If the owner is Indian, then he or she is contributing to the Indian casualties.”