Why Did Sunrisers Leeds Sign Abrar Ahmed? Fans React to Controversial Auction Decision
Controversy Erupts Over Abrar Ahmed's Signing
New Delhi: The recent acquisition of Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed by Sunrisers Leeds for £190,000 (approximately Rs 2.3 crore) during the inaugural men's Hundred auction has sparked significant backlash among Indian fans on social media.
This signing marks a historic moment as Abrar is the first Pakistani international player to be signed by an Indian-owned franchise in this tournament.
One user on X expressed their discontent, stating, "Leeds acquired Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed for £190k. He has previously mocked India with his tea gesture and celebrated inappropriately during the Asia Cup. Shame on you, SRH!"
Abrar's signing, which exceeded his base price of £75,000, came after a competitive bidding war with Trent Rockets just before the lunch break.
Sunrisers Leeds, owned by the Indian media conglomerate Sun TV, took over the franchise formerly known as Northern Superchargers by purchasing a 49% stake from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the remaining 51% from Yorkshire for around £100 million.
Another user commented, "Sunrisers Leeds picked Abrar Ahmed for £190,000. He is the same player who never tires of mocking Indians with that tea cup gesture. This clearly shows that the British media's agenda against Indian owners was unfounded!"
The conglomerate also manages Sunrisers Hyderabad (IPL) and Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SA20). Initial reports had indicated that IPL franchises would refrain from bidding on Pakistani players, a sentiment that seemed to hold until Abrar's selection.
Since 2009, no Pakistani player has participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and franchise owners who have invested in T20 leagues globally have generally steered clear of signing players from Pakistan.
The ECB stated last month that auction selections would be made based on 'cricketing performance, availability, and team needs.' While nine Pakistani players have participated in the first five seasons of the competition, none of the female cricketers from Pakistan were selected in the women's auction held on Wednesday.
One user on X remarked, "Playing against someone is entirely different from paying players who have mocked India during Operation Sindoor."
Another user added, "Why is there outrage when the BCCI has faced the same player three times in the last Asia Cup, which occurred right after Operation Sindoor? Plus, the team isn't owned by SRK, so this will soon be forgotten."
Abrar was the second Pakistani player sold during the auction, following mystery spinner Usman Tariq, who was acquired by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000. Other Pakistani players like Saim Ayub, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan went unsold.
Sunrisers Leeds, led by captain Harry Brook and coached by Daniel Vettori, also secured South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton, England’s Zak Crawley, Matt Potts, and Dan Lawrence in the early rounds of the auction. The team already includes Brydon Carse, Mitchell Marsh, and Nathan Ellis. The 2026 Hundred is set to take place from July 21 to August 16, featuring 34 men’s and 34 women’s matches.