- Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has strongly criticised Indian-owned Hundred team Sunrisers Leeds for signing Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed.
- Gavaskar argued that payments to Pakistani players, through income tax, could indirectly fund arms purchases by their government, contributing to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians.
- He highlighted the long-standing exclusion of Pakistani players from the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2009 due to geopolitical tensions.
- Gavaskar questioned the owner's priorities, stating that winning a tournament should not be more important than Indian lives, and called for the decision to be reversed.
- The signing led to significant online backlash and the suspension of Sunrisers Leeds' X account, despite head coach Daniel Vettori previously stating he had no orders to avoid certain individuals.
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