BCCI Vice-President Comments on Abrar Ahmed's Signing by Sunrisers Leeds

Rajeev Shukla, the BCCI vice-president, has downplayed the significance of Abrar Ahmed's signing by Sunrisers Leeds during The Hundred auction. He emphasized that the board has no jurisdiction over overseas leagues. This acquisition marks a notable moment as Abrar becomes the first Pakistani player to join an Indian-owned franchise in the tournament. The signing has sparked controversy, leading to a temporary suspension of the team's account on social media. With IPL franchises avoiding Pakistani players since 2009 due to diplomatic tensions, this development raises questions about the future of cricket relations between the two nations. Read on for more insights into this unfolding story.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 14, 2026, 02:12 IST

BCCI's Stance on Abrar Ahmed's Acquisition

On Friday, Rajeev Shukla, the vice-president of the BCCI, played down the significance of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed being acquired by Sunrisers Leeds during The Hundred auction. He stated that developments in overseas leagues fall outside the board's jurisdiction.

Sunrisers Leeds, which is owned by the Chennai-based media group Sun Group, made headlines on Thursday by signing Abrar, marking him as the first Pakistani player to join an Indian-owned franchise in this tournament.

"This is not our concern. The IPL is different. We have no involvement in what occurs in The Hundred or other international leagues," Shukla remarked.

The franchise secured Abrar for GBP 190,000 (around Rs 2.34 crore) after competing with Trent Rockets in the bidding process. The tournament is scheduled to take place from July 21 to August 16.

Following the signing of Abrar, Sunrisers Leeds faced criticism, leading to a temporary suspension of the team's account on X.

Since 2009, IPL franchises have refrained from signing Pakistani players due to ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan.

The Sun Group, which also owns Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, completed a full acquisition of the former Northern Superchargers last year, purchasing a 49% stake from the ECB and the remaining 51% from Yorkshire County Club for approximately GBP 100 million.

Kavya Maran, the CEO of Sunrisers, was present at the auction and actively participated in the bidding process.

Additionally, the group owns Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 league but does not have any Pakistani players on its roster.

Abrar was the second Pakistani cricketer sold during the auction, following mystery spinner Usman Tariq, who was acquired by Birmingham Phoenix for GBP 140,000 (approximately Rs 1.72 crore). However, Birmingham Phoenix has no ties to the IPL.