New Delhi: A storm engulfed. Abrar AhmedSigning into The Hundred continued to increase after the former. IPL Chairman Lalit Modi Kavya Maran and her franchise Sunrisers posted a pointed message to Leeds.Go beyond limits with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Sunrisers Leeds, owned by the same group behind Sunrisers Hyderabad, picked Abrar for £190,000 (roughly Rs 2.34 crore) at the inaugural Men’s Hundred auction in London. The move triggered a backlash in India given the long absence of Pakistani players from the IPL-related ecosystem.Without naming anyone directly, Lalit Modi wrote on X: “Investing 2.34 crores on a Pakistani player when the fans are already ahead? I know a thing or two about managing optics and building empires. Call me.”The controversy even saw Sunrisers Leeds’ social media account temporarily suspended amid outrage, revealing the scale of the public backlash.Reactions, political undertones and Gavaskar’s remarksThe signing has also revived the political sensitivities associated with Pakistan-India relations. After the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the resulting diplomatic fallout, Pakistani players have not participated in the IPL since the opening of the 2008 season.After that, the discussion escalated. Sunil Gavaskar criticized the move as an indirect way of funding Pakistan’s military – remarks that sparked a backlash across the cricketing community.Pakistan-born England cricketer Azeem Rafique slammed Gavaskar’s comments, posting: “It’s absolutely ridiculous and should be condemned… crass stuff.”Despite the turmoil, a report by telecomasia.net indicated that Abrar remains troubled. Ranked third in the ICC T20I bowlers rankings, the mystery spinner is focused on his career and opportunities in global leagues.Sources close to the Pakistan Cricket Board said that the uproar over Abrar’s signing is not unexpected, but they are not losing sleep over the uproar.The franchise stands strong amid ECB scrutiny.Sunrisers Leeds coach Daniel Vettori defended the decision, saying Abrar was among several top overseas spinner options after missing out on Adil Rashid.“It’s a pleasure to get it,” Vettori said, adding that the selection was purely on cricketing merit.With tensions between India and Pakistan still tense after recent geopolitical flashpoints, Abrar’s signing has become more than just a cricket decision.
