Sunrisers Leeds' Controversial Signing of Abrar Ahmed at The Hundred 2026 Auction

Sunrisers Hyderabad Coach Responds to Backlash

Daniel Vettori, the head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad, has addressed the uproar surrounding the signing of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed by Sunrisers Leeds during The Hundred 2026 Auction. This historic move has drawn significant criticism from fans and social media.

Sunrisers Leeds, co-owned by CEO Kavya Maran, secured Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 (approximately INR 2.34 Crore), making him the highest-paid Asian player in the auction held on March 12. The signing has been controversial as it marks the first time a Pakistani player has been signed by an Indian-owned franchise, despite rumors of a 'shadow ban' on Pakistani cricketers in The Hundred.

The backlash was so intense that it led to the suspension of Sunrisers Leeds' account on X (formerly Twitter), showcasing the level of fan outrage regarding this unprecedented signing.

Vettori Defends the Decision

Abrar Ahmed was one of only two Pakistani players selected during The Hundred Auction, with Usman Tariq being the other, who was picked by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000 (around INR 1.72 crore).

In an interview with BBC Sport, Vettori defended the decision to sign Abrar, highlighting his unique spin bowling variations. He stated, "He's unique in the amount of variations, and many domestic players may not have encountered him before."

Abrar entered the auction with a base price of £75,000, and the bidding began at £100,000 from Trent Rockets before Sunrisers Leeds joined the fray. The two teams engaged in a fierce bidding war, ultimately resulting in Sunrisers Leeds acquiring Abrar for £190,000, marking their most significant purchase in the auction.

Prioritizing Skill Over Controversy

Vettori acknowledged the controversy surrounding Abrar Ahmed's signing but clarified that the team did not receive any directives to avoid signing Pakistani players. He emphasized that the decision was based solely on Abrar's skills, stating, "We entered the auction with all players available to us. When Abrar became an option, he was prioritized due to his exceptional abilities among the available spinners."

During The Hundred Auction, Sunrisers Leeds utilized £1.01 million of their £1.1 million budget to sign 11 players, completing their 15-member squad. Dan Lawrence was the most expensive acquisition for the franchise, with his signing costing £210,000. Prior to the auction, the franchise had already allocated £950,000 of their total budget of £2.05 million to pre-sign four players, including Harry Brook, Mitchell Marsh, Nathan Ellis, and Brydon Carse.