The Hundred auction: Sunrisers Leeds buy Abrar Ahmed, quashes rumors of Indian-owned franchises ignoring Pakistani players
Sunrisers Leeds bought Abrar Ahmed in the Hundred 2026 auction on Thursday, March 12. The Sunrisers franchise owned by Sun Group – an Indian conglomerate led by Kalanithi Maran – went all out for the Pakistan spinner, eventually acquiring him for £190,000 (approximately Rs 2.34 crore). Kavya Maran, who is a key figure of the franchise and serves as the CEO, was present at the auction table.
Kavya, along with head coach Daniel Vettori, were at the auction table at London’s Piccadilly Lights on Thursday when Sunrisers Leeds pipped Trent Rockets to acquire Abrar Ahmed. Sunrisers Leeds will be led by England T20I captain Harry Brook.
This was the first time in many years that an Indian Premier League (IPL)-owned team had signed a Pakistani cricketer.
Four of The Hundred’s eight franchises – Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds – are now at least partly owned by the companies that control IPL teams.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s Usman Tariq, the Mystery spinner with one pose who created a stir in T20 World Cup 2026Was purchased by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000.
After making his debut for Pakistan in 2022, Abrar Ahmed was initially labeled a Test specialist. However, since making his T20I debut in 2024, Abrar has taken 52 wickets in 38 matches, with a sensational average of 17.36 and an excellent economy rate of 6.67. He also took six wickets in four matches during Pakistan’s disappointing campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup last month.
How many Pakistani players in the Hundred auction?
14 players from Pakistan were shortlisted for the Hundred 2026 auction. ODI captain Shaheen Afridi withdrew his name on the eve of the auction, but 13 players were sure to go under the hammer.
Big Bash League star Haris Rauf, who was not selected for the T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, remained unsold along with all-rounder Sam Ayub.
Are Indian owners not buying Pakistani players?
The Hundred faced a decisive test of its integrity after a massive change in ownership. For the first time, the competition entered the “private era” when the ECB sold stakes in its franchises last year – primarily to the owners of the Indian Premier League (IPL) – leading to widespread fears that Pakistan’s top cricketers would be systematically forced out of the league.
The dispute stems from the sale of four major franchises to Indian groups in 2025: Sunrisers Leeds (Sunrisers Hyderabad), MI London (Mumbai Indians), Manchester Super Giants (Lucknow Super Giants), and Southern Brave (GMR/Delhi Capitals).
The concern among players and fans was rooted in a consistent global pattern. Since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Pakistanis have been banned from the IPL. As the same owners expanded into South Africa’s SA20 and UAE’s ILT20, the unwritten rule was followed; Not a single Pakistani player has been contracted by the IPL-owned franchises in those leagues.
Before the 2026 auction, BBC reports suggest a similar shadow ban was imminent in EnglandA senior official reportedly warned the agents that interest in the Pakistanis would be limited to four non-IPL affiliated teams. After this the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had to intervene immediately. who issued a formal warning to all ownersCiting the UK’s strict anti-discrimination laws, selection must be based solely on merit.
In a significant move to silence the critics, Sunrisers Leeds backed these words with action by signing Abrar Ahmed. The signing is being seen as a historic moment, potentially breaking the IPL blockade that has dictated global franchise politics for years.
While world No. 1 bowler Sadia Iqbal remained unsold in the women’s auction earlier this week – raising fresh questions – the men’s draft suggests the ECB’s firm stance may have successfully preserved the tournament’s diversity in its first year of private ownership.
– ends


