'It will contribute to Indian deaths' | Gavaskar slams Sunrisers Leeds for signing Pakistan spinner

The Indian batting great feels the signing of a Pakistan player by an Indian-owned franchise "indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians".

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has come down heavily on Sunrisers Leeds for signing Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed for The Hundred tournament.

The Sunrisers Leeds, owned by Chennai-based media conglomerate Sun Group, last week signed the Pakistan mystery spinner during The Hundred player auction, making him the first Pakistan cricketer to be picked by an Indian-owned franchise in the tournament.

The Pakistan spinner was roped in by Sunrisers during The Hundred auction, saying the development in an "overseas league" is beyond the board's ambit.

While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla downplayed the acquisition of Pakistan spinner, saying the development in an "overseas league" that is beyond the board's ambit, Gavaskar was heavily critical of the move.

In his column for Mumbai-based tabloid Mid Day, the former Indian captain said "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," he wrote.

"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," he added.

It is worth mentioning that players from Pakistan have not featured in BCCI's cash-rich Indian Premier League since 2009 due to the diplomatic stand off between the two nations.

India and Pakistan, who were engaged in a deadly conflict in May last year, have also not played a bilateral series in more than a decade and meet only in global or regional tournaments.

"There's still time to undo the wrong and hopefully wiser counsels will prevail," added Gavaskar, the first batter-ever to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket.

It may be recalled that Sunrisers Leeds had faced heavy backlash following Abrar’s signing, with the team’s X account suspended briefly.

(With inputs from agencies)