Sunil Gavaskar’s harsh criticism of Indian-owned franchise Sunrisers Leeds has now drawn a sharp response from Pakistan-born English cricketer Azeem Rafiq. There has been a massive backlash in India after Pakistan spinner was roped in by Sunrisers Leeds for The Hundred 2026.
Rafiq took to the social media and lashed out at the Indian cricket great, calling his remarks “ridiculous” and “vile.” He also said that Gavaskar’s achievements on the field do not justify what he wrote in his newspaper column. The batting legend wrote that the signing of Abrar “indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians”.
Abrar, who is currently ranked third in ICC rankings for bowlers was signed by Sunrisers Leeds for £190,000, roughly Rs 2.3 crore, which also owns Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL and the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20.
Rafiq, an off-spinner born in Karachi in 1991, moved to England at a young age and went on to represent the country at the youth level. He even captained Yorkshire in 2012 and led the England Under-19 team during his early career.
In 2020, Rafiq accused Yorkshire of deep-rooted discrimination, saying he had been subjected to repeated racist comments and mistreatment because of his Pakistani background.
A year later, Yorkshire admitted that Rafiq had been a victim of racial harassment and bullying, with an independent panel supporting several of his claims.
The revelations sent shockwaves through English cricket, triggering major changes within the club’s setup. Rafiq also appeared before a UK parliamentary committee in November 2021, where he pushed for accountability and meaningful reforms in the system.
