For the upcoming The Hundred tournament, Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed has been picked by a team supported by an Indian owner. Sunrisers Leeds roped in the Pakistani spin wizard for the upcoming season in the English franchise cricket league.
Sunrisers Leeds, backed by the Indian Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad, takes a bet on Abrar Ahmed at the players’ auction on Thursday. For a price tag of £190,000, the franchise secured the service of the spinner, whose nickname is ‘Harry Potter’.
A series of controversies was ahead of the auction
Ahead of the auction, there were rumours that the Indian owners in the The Hundred franchise were not interested in any Pakistani cricketers. Proving all the previous speculations wrong, Kavya Maran’s team makes headlines by signing Ahmed.
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It was believed that the English franchises, who are backed by Indian owners, tried to bar the Pakistani cricketers from the league. During the controversial state, former cricketers like Moeen Ali and Michael Vaughan urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to make sure cricketers from every nation would receive equal treatment in the league.
Later, a joint statement issued by the franchises and ECB confirmed that players from all nations could take part in the players’ auction.
Earlier, Usman Tariq, another Pakistan international spinner, who is mainly known for his controversial bowling action, became the first player from Pakistan to be sold at the auction. Birmingham Phoenix showed faith in Usman Tariq.
Abrar Ahmed is making headlines as the Sunrisers have invested in him
More than Usman Tariq, it is Abrar Ahmed who caught the spotlight as the Sunrisers took a bet on him. The spinner can prove useful for the team because of his experiences in playing for multiple franchises and international cricket.
The 27-year-old legbreak bowler has previously featured in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Major League Cricket (MLC), and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). For the first time, he is all set to play in The Hundred franchise league.
Abrar Ahmed played for the Pakistan cricket team in the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2026, without getting much success, according to expectations. In the 2026 T20 World Cup 2026, Abrar Ahmed claimed only 6 wickets, including a 3/23 figure, which he got during the match against Sri Lanka.
Fans fume after Kavya Maran
SHAME ON KAVYA MARAN
May SRH finish last this IPL season— Rajveer Singh (@rajveersayshi) March 12, 2026
TraitoKavya Maranan
— Lokanand 🚩 (@Lokanand6) March 12, 2026
Ee Koxxa Puk gadu Tea Cup Pose isthu insta story lu petti india ne vekkiristhadu 🤬
Shameless Sunrisers bid for this Fxckn Cunnt 😡
Shame on Kavya Maran 👎#Thehundred #TheHundredAuction https://t.co/vJjJsYp0zW
— Hypocrite (@xdpqd) March 12, 2026
Shame on Kavya Maran and Sunrisers team management for bidding on Abrar Ahmad!@SunRisers @sunrisersleeds
— Cravosa (@cravosaX) March 12, 2026
@SunRisers should get all the hate this IPL season for this treacherous act by Kavya Maran
— Rajveer Singh (@rajveersayshi) March 12, 2026
SRH bought that terrorist Abrar Ahmed😡😡😡😡
KavyMaran, and you won’t see heaven
— ani (@anyrium) March 12, 2026
Such a shame that Unrisersleeds @SunRisers they’ve bought a Pakistani bowler in Abrar Ahmarar, in their team being indian owners! Shameful Kavya Maran @sunrisersleeds #TheHundredAuction @englandcricket @ECB_cricket
— Aman Kr🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@AmanKr782021303) March 12, 2026
Shame on Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kavya Maran
— 76off59 (@finallen22) March 12, 2026
Anybody who supports SRH now in the IPL has some serious Qs to answer. If Mustifizur was wrong, this is worse.
— Krishna Anand (@KrishnaAnand_) March 12, 2026
