Pakistan spinner signing Abrar Ahmed by Sunrisers Leeds During the auction, The Hundred in 2026 sparked a wave of controversy and criticism, especially among Indian cricket fans. The franchise, which is owned by the Chennai-based Sun Group, which also runs the IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad, came under control after securing the mystery spinner for £190,000 (around Rs 2.34 crore).
Much of the backlash was directed at the franchise co-owner Kavya Maranwho participates in the auction and raises the paddle during the bidding. The backlash on social media has been fierce, with several fans questioning the decision and even calling for a boycott. Adding to the drama, Sunrisers Leeds’ official X (formerly Twitter) account was reportedly suspended shortly after the announcement.
Amid the controversy, Sunrisers Leeds coach Daniel Vettori explained the reasons for the move, stressing that the decision was based purely on the needs of cricket rather than any off-field considerations.
Why did Kavya Mara’s Sunrisers Leeds target Abrar Ahmed?
According to Vettori, the decision to pursue Abrar Ahmed was made only after the franchise failed to secure its main spin target during the London auction.
“Once we missed out on Adil Rashid, who was the first priority, then we obviously went into the foreign spinner market. There were four or five guys we were looking at and Abrar was one of them. We were delighted to get him.” Vettori said after the auction.
The coaching staff had identified several overseas spin options, including Bangladesh spinner Rishad Hossain and another Pakistani mystery spinner, Usman Tariq, before deciding to bid aggressively for Abrar.
Ahead of the auction, there was speculation that the four Indian-owned franchises might shy away from picking Pakistani players due to political tensions between India and Pakistan. Pakistani cricketers did not play in the competition Indian Premier League (IPL) Since 2008 and IPL-affiliated teams generally refrain from signing them in other global leagues as well.
However, Vettori made it clear that such considerations never affected the team’s strategy.
“We just planned for whoever was in the auction. There was no discussion about not picking Pakistani players. It was just a matter of who was the best option.” Vettori explained.
He further confirmed that the franchise ownership never instructed the coaching staff to avoid Pakistani players.
“We came to the auction with every player we had. As soon as this option was available, there were a number of very good spinners from international teams who were options, but Abrar was the priority.” he told BBC Sport.
Ahead of the auction, the England and Wales Cricket Board also recalled its responsibilities against discrimination amid possible unofficial reports. “shadow ban”. The ECB and all eight teams later issued a joint statement saying the selections would be based on “performance, availability and the needs of each team.”
The tactical reasons behind the signing of Abrar Ahmed
Vettori highlighted that Abrar Ahmed’s bowling style makes him an attractive option for Sunrisers Leeds, especially given the conditions at Headingley Cricket Ground.
“It’s a bit of a mystery. I don’t think many English players have seen much of him. He played against Australia recently and according to the Australian players, he struggles to deal with a lot of variations and his ability to play in the power play and through the middle,” Vettori said.
The former New Zealand captain believes spinners often play a crucial role at Headingley, making Abrar’s skill set particularly valuable to the team.
“It’s been the spinners who have been successful there. Having someone like Abrar can make a big difference for us.” he added. “A lot of variations and the ability to strike in the power play and still in the middle stages is a key requirement at Headingley in my opinion.”
Abrar entered the auction with a base price of £75,000, but a bidding war between Sunrisers Leeds and Trent Rockets eventually pushed his price up to £190,000, making him the most expensive Asian player in the hundred auctions in 2026.
He became the second Pakistani player to be sold at the auction after Usman Tariq was snapped up by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000. Several other Pakistani stars went unsold, including Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub, while fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrew before the auction began.
Despite online criticism, Sunrisers Leeds management remain confident in their decision. Vettori reiterated that the team is focused on building a strong squad that can compete for the title.
Sunrisers Leeds, captained by Harry Brooke, also added Ryan Rickelton, Zach Crowley, Matt Potts and Dan Lawrence during the auction. The squad already includes notable names like Brydon Carse, Mitchell Marsh and Nathan Ellis.
The 2026 “Yuz” season will run from July 21 to August 16 and will feature 34 men’s and 34 women’s matches.
Also READ: Hundred 2026 Auction – Complete list of sold players with prices
