Pakistan’s spinner Abrar Ahmed remains calm amidst criticism following his signing with Sunrisers Leeds, an Indian-owned franchise in The Hundred auction. Despite concerns raised by former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar linking the move to funding the Pakistan military, Abrar is unperturbed by the backlash. The signing, valued at 190k Pounds Sterling, has stirred controversy in India, but Abrar is focused on his cricket career.
Gavaskar’s remarks insinuating indirect support to the Pakistan military through Abrar’s signing have sparked a debate. However, both the Pakistan Cricket Board and Abrar have chosen to stay silent on the matter. Sources suggest that the issue lies between the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the franchise, Sunrisers Leeds.
Abrar’s decision to join The Hundred was based on his desire to showcase his skills globally, having been ranked among the top bowlers in T20I. The coach of Sunrisers Leeds, Daniel Vettori, has shown support for Abrar’s signing, emphasizing the player’s talent and potential contribution to the team. Vettori, a respected spinner himself, expressed satisfaction with securing Abrar after missing out on other prospects.
The ECB’s warning against discrimination based on nationality in The Hundred auction has added a new dimension to Abrar’s signing. The threat of disciplinary action looms over teams showing bias against Pakistani players. The strained relations between India and Pakistan have further complicated the cricketing landscape, with tensions escalating post a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir last year.
Former Pakistan Under-19 captain Azeem Rafiq condemned Gavaskar’s comments, labeling them as unacceptable and vile. Rafiq, who plays for Yorkshire in Leeds, expressed outrage over the remarks made by the Indian cricket legend on social media.
