The first auction of The Hundred’s private era on March 12, 2026, intended to be a celebratory milestone for the ECB, instead ignited a heated debate in India. SunRisers Leeds, an Indian-owned franchise affiliated with IPL’s SunRisers Hyderabad, caused a social media uproar after winning the bid for Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed.
The contract, reportedly worth £190,000 (around ₹2.34 crore), is notable as it marks the first time in years that a franchise with Indian ownership has actively recruited a Pakistani international. While UK observers praised the decision as a win for merit-based selection, many Indian fans reacted negatively, calling for boycotts of the SunRisers brand.
The Hundred, featuring eight teams, is scheduled in the UK from July 21 to August 16.
The controversy centers on social media posts allegedly made by Abrar Ahmed in mid-2025, which some Indian fans claim mocked the Indian Armed Forces amid heightened cross-border tensions. Following the signing, hashtags like #ShameOnSRH and #BoycottSunrisers trended on X, with critics arguing that the franchise prioritized competitive advantage over national sentiment.
Some observers specifically criticized Kaavya Maran, face of the SunRisers brand, for aggressively bidding for Abrar during Thursday’s auction in London. One X user wrote, “Indian owner, Indian brand, zero national backbone. Stop pretending to represent India if profit matters more than the country.”
The signing breaks an informal trend among Indian-owned franchises in global T20 leagues, including South Africa’s SA20 and UAE’s ILT20, which typically avoid Pakistani players. On the eve of the auction, the ECB reminded all eight directors of cricket that excluding players based on nationality would violate UK anti-discrimination laws. Despite other prominent Pakistani stars like Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan going unsold, SunRisers Leeds outbid Trent Rockets to secure Abrar.
This is the first season of The Hundred to feature Indian ownership following the league’s privatization last year.
Speculation has already emerged about whether commercial or political pressure could force SunRisers Leeds to rescind Abrar’s contract, drawing parallels with Mustafizur Rahman’s brief stint with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2026. Despite the controversy, head coach Daniel Vettori and team officials maintain the signing is purely merit-based. Abrar, one of the world’s most feared white-ball spinners with 52 wickets in his last 38 T20Is at an economy of 6.67, fits the team’s cricketing strategy.
While the move strengthens SunRisers Leeds on the field, it leaves the franchise navigating a challenging public relations situation in its primary market back in India.
