Abrar Ahmed signing sparks furore, signals no IPL return for Pakistan players

• The signing of Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed by Sunrisers Leeds, owned by Sun TV network (Sunrisers Hyderabad's parent company), for £190,000 (Rs 2.34 crores) has caused significant controversy.
• Sunil Gavaskar noted that Indian fans' anger stems from the belief that fees paid to Pakistani players indirectly fund arms and weapons, contributing to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians.
• Pakistani cricketers, including Sohail Tanvir, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammed Asif, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Kamran Akmal, played crucial roles in the inaugural 2008 IPL season.
• Pakistani players were banned from IPL after the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
• Azhar Mahmood, a British citizen, was the last player with Pakistani origin to participate in IPL, playing for KKR in 2015, but since then, there has been no involvement from across the border.