Our Bureau
Mumbai
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has hit back at fans who criticised him after he slammed a Super League team for hiring a Pakistani player, even as he had once appeared on a Pakistan‑linked cricket show.
Gavaskar recently questioned an Indian‑owned franchise’s decision to pick Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed in the newly launched “The Hundred 2026” league, saying Indian money should not be used to pay Pakistani cricketers. This sparked a row online, with fans pointing out that he himself had been a guest on a Pakistan‑linked show in Dubai, sharing the stage with former Pakistan stars Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
In a fresh interview, Gavaskar firmly denied the criticism. He said he has worked with ICC and ACC commentary panels, where the money went to the boards, not to him personally, and that he never paid any commentator, Indian or otherwise. On the Dubai show, he clarified, “I did not ask nor got paid for the show in Dubai,” calling the criticism “unfair” and stressing that he objects only to Indian‑owned entities directly funding Pakistan players.
The cricketer also linked his stance to India‑Pakistan relations at the border, saying bilateral cricket between the two teams should not resume until there is real peace. He insisted that his comments are about principle, not about turning down professional opportunities, and urged fans to separate his personal appearance from the politics of domestic‑franchise money going to Pakistan.
