The signing of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed by Sunrisers Leeds during the 2026 auction of The Hundred has sparked a wave of debate and criticism, particularly among Indian cricket fans. The franchise, owned by Chennai-based Sun Group – which also runs the Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL team—came under scrutiny after securing the mystery spinner for £190,000 (around ₹2.34 crore).
Much of the backlash was directed at franchise co-owner Kavya Maran, who was present at the auction and raised the paddle during the bidding process. The reaction on social media was intense, with several fans questioning the decision and even calling for boycotts. Adding to the drama, the official X (formerly Twitter) account of Sunrisers Leeds was reportedly suspended shortly after the announcement.
Amid the controversy, Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori has now explained the reasoning behind the move, stressing that the decision was purely based on cricketing needs rather than any off-field considerations.
Why Kavya Maran’s Sunrisers Leeds targeted Abrar Ahmed?
According to Vettori, the decision to pursue Abrar Ahmed was made only after the franchise failed to secure their primary spin target during the auction in London.
“Once we missed out on Adil Rashid, who was a priority early on, then we obviously jumped into the overseas spinner market. There were four or five guys we were looking at, and Abrar was one of them. Very pleased to get him,” Vettori stated after the conclusion of the auction.
The coaching staff had identified several overseas spin options, including Bangladesh spinner Rishad Hossain and fellow Pakistani mystery spinner Usman Tariq, before ultimately deciding to bid aggressively for Abrar.
Before the auction, there had been speculation that the four franchises with Indian ownership might avoid picking Pakistani players due to political tensions between India and Pakistan. Pakistani cricketers have not played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2008, and IPL-linked teams have generally avoided signing them in other global leagues as well.
However, Vettori made it clear that such considerations never influenced the team’s strategy.
“We just planned for everyone who was in the auction. There wasn’t a discussion about not picking Pakistan players. It was simply a matter of who was the best option available,” Vettori explained.
He further confirmed that the franchise ownership never instructed the coaching staff to avoid Pakistani players.
“We came into the auction with every player available to us. As soon as this option was available there were a number of very good spinners from international teams that were an option, but Abrar was a priority,” he told BBC Sport.
Before the auction, the England and Wales Cricket Board had also reminded franchises of their anti-discrimination responsibilities amid reports of a possible informal “shadow ban.” The ECB and all eight teams later released a joint statement saying selections would be based on “performance, availability, and the needs of each team.”
Tactical reasons behind the signing of Abrar Ahmed
Vettori also highlighted that Abrar Ahmed’s bowling style made him an attractive option for Sunrisers Leeds, particularly considering the conditions at Headingley Cricket Ground.
“It’s a bit of a mystery. I don’t think many English players have seen him much. He recently played against Australia, and the feedback from the Australian players was that he’s tricky to face, with a lot of variations and the ability to strike in the powerplay and through the middle overs,” Vettori said.
The former New Zealand captain believes that spinners often play a decisive role at Headingley, making Abrar’s skill set especially valuable for the team.
“Spinners have been the ones who succeed there. Having someone like Abrar could make a big difference for us,” he added. “A lot of variations and an ability to strike in the powerplay, and still through the middle stages, which I think is a key requirement at Headingley.”
Abrar entered the auction with a base price of £75,000, but a bidding contest between Sunrisers Leeds and Trent Rockets eventually pushed his price up to £190,000, making him the most expensive Asian player in the 2026 Hundred auction.
He was also the second Pakistani player sold during the auction, after Usman Tariq was picked up by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000. Several other Pakistan stars—including Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub – went unsold, while fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrew before the auction began.
Despite the criticism online, the Sunrisers Leeds management remains confident in their decision. Vettori reiterated that the team is focused on building a strong squad capable of challenging for the title.
Sunrisers Leeds, captained by Harry Brook, also added players such as Ryan Rickelton, Zak Crawley, Matt Potts, and Dan Lawrence during the auction. The squad already features notable names like Brydon Carse, Mitchell Marsh and Nathan Ellis.
The 2026 season of The Hundred will run from July 21 to August 16, featuring 34 men’s and 34 women’s matches.
