In a landmark moment for global cricket politics, Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed was secured by Sunrisers Leeds during The Hundred 2026 auction on Thursday, March 12. The move is particularly significant as the team is owned by the Sun Group, the same conglomerate behind the IPL’s Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Defying the “Shadow Ban”
Ahead of the auction, there was widespread speculation that the four Indian-owned teams in The Hundred (Sunrisers Leeds, MI London, Manchester Super Giants, and Southern Brave) would avoid Pakistani players due to long-standing geopolitical tensions.
Usman Tariq sold for £140,000 to Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred auction. https://t.co/KeoBLHdlhr pic.twitter.com/yv4MQrhm0Y
— Pavilion Post (@CricinsightsX) March 12, 2026
- ECB Intervention: The England and Wales Cricket Board had reportedly issued a warning to all franchises that selections must be based purely on merit, citing UK anti-discrimination laws.
- The Bidding War: Sunrisers Leeds didn’t just pick Abrar; they fought for him, outbidding Trent Rockets to secure the 27-year-old for £190,000.
- Other Pakistanis: Mystery spinner Usman Tariq was also picked up by Birmingham Phoenix (non-IPL owned) for £140,000. However, stars like Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Saim Ayub went unsold.
Daniel Vettori: “A Cricket Decision”
Head coach Daniel Vettori (who also coaches Sunrisers Hyderabad) dismissed any political undertones to the signing.
Finally, a Pakistani player has been picked by an Indian-owned franchise!
Sunrisers Leeds, led by owner Kavya Maran, saw Daniel Vettori express interest in mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed.
The franchise eventually won the bidding war against Trent Rockets, securing him for £190,000 https://t.co/o5SN3Q95MQ pic.twitter.com/gpgJFcuQmg
— Pavilion Post (@CricinsightsX) March 12, 2026
“There wasn’t a discussion about not picking Pakistan players. We missed out on Adil Rashid [to Southern Brave], so the priority was to get an overseas spin bowler. Abrar was a priority; he has variations that English players haven’t seen much, and feedback from Australian players was that he’s very tricky to face.” — Daniel Vettori.
Social Media Backlash and Account Suspension
The signing triggered a massive reaction on social media, particularly in India.
- The Backlash: Many fans criticized owner Kavya Maran for “going against national sentiment,” given that Pakistani players have been barred from the IPL since 2008.
- X Account Suspension: In a bizarre twist, the official @SunrisersLeeds account on X was suspended just hours after the Abrar announcement. While X has not cited a specific reason, the suspension followed a wave of coordinated reporting and trolling from angry users.
Pakistan’s Presence in The Hundred 2026
| Player | Team | Price | Ownership Type |
| Abrar Ahmed | Sunrisers Leeds | £190,000 | IPL-Linked (Sun Group) |
| Usman Tariq | Birmingham Phoenix | £140,000 | US Investment (Knighthead) |
| Haris Rauf | Unsold | – | – |
| Shadab Khan | Unsold | – | – |
The 5G Connection
With the tournament starting on July 21, 2026, Pakistani fans will be able to watch Abrar’s matches with higher clarity thanks to the 5G rollout recently launched by Jazz and Ufone in Islamabad and provincial capitals. This marks the first time a Pakistani player will represent the “Sunrisers” brand in any global league.
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