Sunrisers Franchise Faces Backlash Over Abrar Ahmed Signing

The Sunrisers franchise has sparked outrage among Indian fans following their decision to sign Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed during the Hundred 2026 auction. This controversial move comes despite a ban on Pakistani players in the IPL, raising questions about discrimination in global T20 leagues. While only two Pakistani players were sold, the backlash led to the suspension of the Sunrisers Leeds Twitter account. As other notable Pakistani players went unsold, the cricket community watches closely as the tournament approaches its start date.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 13, 2026, 09:17 IST

Controversy Surrounds Sunrisers Leeds

The Sunrisers franchise has come under intense criticism from Indian fans after acquiring Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed during the 2026 Hundred auction. Despite a ban on Pakistani players in the IPL, there were expectations that Indian-owned teams would extend this ban to other global T20 leagues. However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) took a firm stance, emphasizing that discrimination would not be tolerated in the tournament. Ultimately, only two Pakistani players were sold, with Sunrisers acquiring Abrar for USD 255,000, while Usman Tariq went to Birmingham Phoenix for $187,000. Notably, this marks the first time Sunrisers have signed a Pakistani player.

In addition to Sunrisers Leeds, which was previously known as Northern Superchargers, the franchise also owns teams in the IPL (Sunrisers Hyderabad) and SA20 (Sunrisers Eastern Cape). Following the signing of Abrar, the Sunrisers Leeds Twitter account was suspended without any official explanation. When attempting to access the account, users are met with a 'suspended' message.

While the exact cause of the suspension is unknown, it is speculated that the account was mass-reported by Indian fans in response to Abrar's signing.

Sun TV has taken complete control of Sunrisers Leeds, acquiring a 49 percent stake from the ECB and the remaining 51 percent from Yorkshire.

Notable Pakistani Players Go Unsold

While Abrar and Usman secured contracts, many other Pakistani players were left without bids. Notable names like Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, and Haris Rauf registered for the auction but attracted no interest from franchises. Rauf's omission was particularly surprising, given his status as the leading wicket-taker for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League. Additionally, Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Afridi withdrew from the tournament prior to the auction. Unfortunately, no Pakistani women players managed to secure contracts in the Women's Hundred, which is set to commence on July 21, 2026.