Sunil Gavaskar Criticizes SRH for Signing Pakistani Spinner Abrar Ahmed

Controversy Surrounds SRH's Acquisition of Abrar Ahmed

Indian cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar has reiterated his criticism of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for acquiring Pakistani cricketer Abrar Ahmed in England's 'The Hundred' league. This decision has ignited significant controversy, particularly as SRH's sister franchise, Sunrisers Leeds (SE), secured the spinner for £190,000 (approximately Rs. 2.37 crores). This move surprised many, especially since reports suggested that IPL franchises would refrain from bidding on Pakistani players due to an alleged 'shadow ban' on such transactions.

The signing of Abrar has led to widespread backlash against SRH and its owners, the Sun TV Network, as well as CEO Kavya Maran. Gavaskar was among the most outspoken critics, accusing the franchise of indirectly supporting the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians, citing that Abrar contributes income tax to the Pakistani government. However, Gavaskar's comments have drawn criticism, with many highlighting his collaborations with former Pakistani players and recalling his participation on the Pakistani show 'The Dressing Room' during the 2025 Champions Trophy alongside notable cricketers like Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram.

In response to the backlash, Gavaskar defended his position, asserting that he has not financially supported any Pakistani entity through his commentary work. He stated, “Yes, I have been on commentary panels of ICC and ACC. The revenue went to all the participating countries from the ICC and ACC, but not from an Indian entity as far as I know.” He expressed a desire for Indian owners to cease hiring Pakistani players in various leagues worldwide, emphasizing that this has not been reciprocated by Pakistani owners for decades.

Additionally, Gavaskar supported Jay Shah regarding the scheduling of India-Pakistan matches in ACC and ICC events, clarifying that Shah's role as ICC chairman does not dictate match schedules. “Jay Shah is only the chairman of ICC. India and Pakistan have been playing against each other for decades, long before he became the chairman,” he stated, reinforcing that the ICC is responsible for match scheduling and revenue distribution to the PCB.