Overview:
The Hundred 2026 season is scheduled to run from July 21 to August 16, and Abrar’s signing has already created a historic talking point in the tournament.
Sunrisers Leeds, owned by Chennai-based Sun Group, shocked fans on Thursday by acquiring mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed during the Hundred player auction, making him the first Pakistani player to join a franchise owned by an Indian company in the tournament. After a fierce bidding war with Trent Rockets, the franchise secured Ahmed for GBP 190,000 (around Rs 2.34 crore). This signing also ended speculation that IPL-linked Hundred franchises would avoid Pakistani players, a practice that has been in place since 2009 due to diplomatic tensions.
The Sun Group, who also owns IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad, finalized complete ownership of the Northern Superchargers last year. They acquired 49% from the ECB and 51% from Yorkshire County Cricket Club, with a total outlay of GBP 100 million. CEO Kavya Maran personally attended the auction and approved Abrar’s signing by raising the paddle.
In addition, the conglomerate owns Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 League, but their current squad does not feature any Pakistani players. Fans were miffed with the signing of Abrar and slammed the owners.
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
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
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
Did not expect from SRH https://t.co/hwLeMDJBzJ
— Archit Garg (@ar_chit7) March 12, 2026
Abrar Ahmed was the second Pakistani player sold in the auction, following mystery spinner, Usman Tariq, who joined Birmingham Phoenix for GBP 140,000 (around Rs 1.72 crore). Unlike Sunrisers Leeds, Birmingham Phoenix has no IPL affiliation. Meanwhile, Pakistani players like pacer Harris Rauf and off-spin all-rounder Saim Ayub went unsold.
The Hundred 2026 season is scheduled to run from July 21 to August 16, and Abrar’s signing has already created a historic talking point in the tournament.