Sunrisers Leeds, the team owned by Chennai-based media conglomerate Sun Group, has drawn criticism after picking Pakistan mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed in the Hundred player auction. The move has sparked backlash online, with some fans questioning the decision by an Indian-owned franchise to pick a Pakistani cricketer.
The Sunrisers secured Ahmed for GBP 190,000 (approximately Rs 2.34 crore) following a bidding contest with Trent Rockets during Thursday’s auction. With this signing, Ahmed became the first Pakistan player to be picked by an Indian-owned franchise in the Hundred.
Historic signing in the hundred
The acquisition is significant because Indian franchises linked to the IPL have not signed Pakistan players since 2009 due to strained diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring nations.
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Ahmed’s selection has therefore drawn attention, as it appears to challenge the long-standing assumption that Indian-owned teams in overseas leagues would avoid signing Pakistan players.
Sunrisers Leeds is owned by the Sun Group, which also runs the IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Sun Group’s growing cricket presence
The Sun Group completed a full takeover of the erstwhile Northern Superchargers last year. The media conglomerate first acquired a 49% stake from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and later bought the remaining 51% from county club Yorkshire for around GBP 100 million.
Following the takeover, the team was rebranded as Sunrisers Leeds.
During the auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad CEO Kavya Maran was present and handled the bidding process for the franchise.
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Apart from their IPL team, the Sun Group also owns Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 league. Notably, the SA20 franchise currently does not have any Pakistan players in its squad.
Here's how fans reacted:
Shame on SRH man wtf disgusting.
— ayan (@TheUpperCut_) March 12, 2026
Paying so much money to a guy who openly mocks India on the Tea thing .
🤢🤢 https://t.co/WGHC4Rfp5d
SRH is finished in my books. Will protest at stadium. Kavya maran you have F’ed with the wrong marine.
— Ankit Jain (@indiantweeter) March 12, 2026
Every one was questioning about KKR but now every one silent on SRH they bought a Pakistani Players who mocked India now he will play for Indian franchise in the Hundred pic.twitter.com/0JvO6qY53a
— Umang Pandey (@PandeyA54962168) March 12, 2026
Unbelievable. 😡 Just saw the news about the SRH-owned team picking a Pakistan player in the auction. Do these owners even care about the fans' sentiments?
— A . K .S (@Aaka08Singh) March 12, 2026
To see an IPL-backed team go and do this is a total slap in the face. Absolute disgrace.
#BoycottSRH #IPL2026 #Shameful https://t.co/eGjlNUTHnA
Did not expect from SRH https://t.co/hwLeMDJBzJ
— Archit Garg (@ar_chit7) March 12, 2026
Other Pakistan players in the auction
Abrar Ahmed was the second Pakistani player to be sold during the auction. Earlier, mystery spinner Usman Tariq was picked up by Birmingham Phoenix for GBP 140,000 (approximately Rs 1.72 crore).
Unlike Sunrisers Leeds, Birmingham Phoenix does not have any connection to the IPL.
Meanwhile, Pakistan pacer Harris Rauf and off-spin all-rounder Saim Ayub remained unsold in the auction.
The upcoming edition of the Hundred is scheduled to run from July 21 to August 16.
