Sunil Gavaskar Clarifies Pakistan Show Appearance, Says He Was Not Paid

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Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has responded to accusations of hypocrisy following his recent criticism of Indian-owned franchises signing Pakistani players in overseas leagues. The backlash stemmed from his appearance on a Pakistani cricket show during the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai.

Gavaskar addressed the controversy by clarifying that he neither requested to be on the show nor received any payment for his appearance. He featured as a guest on The Dressing Room, sharing the panel with former Pakistan captains Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

"I did not ask nor got paid for the show I did in Dubai," Gavaskar said, adding that his involvement in ICC and ACC broadcast panels is part of official tournament coverage where revenue is distributed among participating nations rather than through private payments.

The criticism gained momentum after Gavaskar publicly opposed the signing of Pakistani players by Indian-owned franchises in overseas competitions, including the recent debate surrounding Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed's recruitment in The Hundred.

Reiterating his stance, Gavaskar argued that payments made to Pakistani players by Indian entities could indirectly contribute to Pakistan's state machinery through taxation. He also suggested that Indian-owned teams in other global leagues - such as CPL, SA20, or MLC - should reconsider employing Pakistani players if similar financial links exist.

The controversy has intensified an already sensitive discussion around cross-border participation in franchise cricket, with Gavaskar's remarks highlighting how geopolitics continues to intersect with the sport beyond the field.