Sunrisers Hyderabad Faces Backlash Over Abrar Ahmed Signing in The Hundred Auction

Sunrisers Hyderabad is facing significant backlash after their sister team, Sunrisers Leeds, signed Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 in The Hundred Auction. This decision has sparked outrage among Indian fans, particularly due to Ahmed's controversial past, including derogatory remarks about the Indian Armed Forces. The signing has raised questions about the historical context of Pakistani players in Indian leagues, as no player from Pakistan has participated in the IPL since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The reactions on social media highlight the strong sentiments surrounding this issue.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 13, 2026, 16:54 IST

Controversial Signing by Sunrisers Leeds

Sunrisers Hyderabad, part of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has come under intense scrutiny following the acquisition of Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed by their sister team, Sunrisers Leeds, during the 2026 'The Hundred' Auction held in London on March 12. The franchise, owned by Kavya Maran, secured Ahmed for a staggering £190,000 (approximately Rs. 2.3 crore). This signing marked Ahmed as one of the top ten most expensive players in this unique 100-ball-per-innings format, which recently transitioned from a draft system to an auction format.

Public Outcry Over the Signing

Sunrisers Leeds Faces Major Backlash

It was largely anticipated that no Indian-owned franchise would opt for a Pakistani player in the auction, yet the Maran-owned team broke this unspoken 'shadow ban.' This decision has sparked significant backlash from Indian fans, particularly those supporting SRH. The sentiment against Pakistan is well-documented, but the outrage has intensified due to Ahmed's controversial past, including derogatory comments about the Indian Armed Forces (IAF) following the Pahalgam Terrorist Attacks last year and during Operation Sindhoor.

Fans React on Social Media

Criticism Aimed at SRH for Abrar Ahmed's Signing

Reactions to the Signing

Historical Context of Pakistani Players in Indian Leagues

Abrar Ahmed's signing has raised questions about the historical context of Pakistani players in Indian leagues. Since the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, no player from Pakistan has participated in the IPL. The sentiment against Pakistani players has been reinforced by previous incidents, including the absence of Pakistani players in the SA20 and ILT20 leagues, both of which are owned by Indian franchises.

After the auction, SRH's coach, Daniel Vettori, stated that signing Abrar was a priority for the team. Meanwhile, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla emphasized that the actions of teams in foreign leagues are beyond their control.