Sunrisers Leeds Faces Backlash Over Abrar Ahmed Signing

Sunrisers Leeds has come under fire for signing Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed, marking a historic moment in cricket amidst ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan. The franchise secured his signing for £190,000 during The Hundred auction, leading to mixed reactions from fans. This article explores the implications of this signing and the context surrounding it, including previous instances of Pakistani players in Indian-owned teams. Discover the full details of the squad and the reactions to this controversial move.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 13, 2026, 17:52 IST

Controversial Signing of Abrar Ahmed

Sunrisers Leeds, a franchise owned by the Chennai-based Sun Group, which also manages the IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad, has attracted significant criticism following their acquisition of Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed during The Hundred auction. This signing marks a historic moment as Abrar becomes the first Pakistani cricketer to join an Indian-owned team in The Hundred, amidst the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan. The franchise secured his services after a competitive bidding process against Trent Rockets, finalizing the deal at £190,000, approximately Rs 2.34 crore.

While Abrar is not the only Pakistani player to have played for an Indian-owned T20 franchise, he joins a list that includes Usman Tariq and Mohammad Amir, who were part of the Trinbago Knight Riders, owned by a group that includes Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla. Additionally, Imad Wasim, a former Pakistani all-rounder, played for the Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket in 2025, owned by the GMR group, which also has ties to the Delhi Capitals IPL team.

In the 2023–2024 season, Imad Wasim also participated in the ILT20 league with the Abu Dhabi team owned by KKR. Usman Khan represented MI Emirates in the ILT20 in 2025, with both franchises sharing ownership with the Mumbai Indians. Sun TV acquired a 51% stake in Yorkshire and a 49% stake from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to take control of The Hundred franchise, previously known as Northern Superchargers.

Abrar Ahmed was the second Pakistani player sold at the auction, following Birmingham Phoenix's acquisition of mystery spinner Usman Tariq for £140,000. Other Pakistani players, including Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and Saim Ayub, did not receive any bids.

Sunrisers Leeds Squad: Nathan Ellis, Mitchell Marsh, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Abrar Ahmed, Benny Howell, Daniel Lawrence, Tom Lawes, Matthew Potts, Tom Alsop, Zak Crawley, Ryan Rickelton, Liam Patterson-White, Ed Barnard, Reece Topley.