Gavaskar Urges Indian Franchise Owners to Avoid Signing Pakistani Players in Overseas Leagues
Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar has advised Indian business groups that own cricket franchises across global leagues to refrain from recruiting Pakistani cricketers for teams under their control outside India.
His remarks come in the wake of Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed being picked by Sunrisers Leeds during the player draft for The Hundred.
Sunrisers Leeds is operated by the Chennai-based media conglomerate Sun TV Network, which also owns the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League.
Gavaskar Points to Post-2008 Policy Shift
Writing in a column for a newspaper, Gavaskar noted that the controversy surrounding the signing of a Pakistani player by a franchise with Indian ownership was not unexpected.
He pointed out that since the terrorist strikes in Mumbai in November 2008 — known as the 2008 Mumbai attacks — Indian franchise owners have generally stayed away from including Pakistani players in the IPL.
According to Gavaskar, the debate is tied to a broader sentiment among Indian businesses and cultural organisations.
He argued that payments made to Pakistani players ultimately enter Pakistan’s taxation system and therefore indirectly contribute to the resources available to that country’s government.
He suggested that this realisation has prompted many Indian organisations to avoid engaging Pakistani artists and athletes in recent years.
In his view, whether the payment is made by an Indian company directly or through its international subsidiary, the source of ownership still remains Indian and therefore raises concerns among sections of the public.
Criticism of Franchise Management
Gavaskar also commented on remarks made by Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori.
Vettori had earlier said that the team management did not discuss avoiding Pakistani cricketers during the auction and that Abrar Ahmed had been among several players the team wanted to sign after missing out on England spinner Adil Rashid.
The former Indian captain said that Vettori, being from New Zealand, might not fully appreciate the sensitivities surrounding India-Pakistan relations.
However, he maintained that the responsibility ultimately lies with the franchise owner to understand the political and emotional context before making such decisions.
Gavaskar questioned whether success in a tournament format played primarily in England should take precedence over broader national sentiments and concerns regarding security and public perception.
Social Media Backlash and Possible Fan Reaction
The decision by the Sunrisers-owned team to sign the Pakistani spinner has triggered significant criticism across social media platforms, with many users expressing disapproval.
Gavaskar predicted that the controversy could extend beyond online debates and potentially affect the atmosphere during matches involving the team in England.
He suggested that protests by Indian fans outside stadiums were possible and that spectators might even boycott games to express their dissatisfaction.
He added that even though the team features several exciting stroke-makers capable of attracting crowds, some supporters may deliberately stay away as a sign of protest.
Call for Reconsideration
The cricket legend concluded by saying that the franchise still has an opportunity to reconsider the decision.
He expressed hope that more thoughtful deliberation would prevail and that the issue could be addressed before it escalates further.
The debate has once again highlighted the intersection of sport, politics, and public sentiment in the subcontinent, particularly when it comes to relations between India and Pakistan in international cricket.
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