Sports Desk, New Delhi –The franchise Sunrisers Leeds has come under heavy criticism on social media after purchasing Pakistani mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed during the The Hundred Men’s Player Auction on Thursday.
Abrar Ahmed was signed for around **₹2.3 crore, making him the first Pakistani cricketer to be bought by a team owned by Indian stakeholders in this competition. The decision quickly triggered strong reactions from some Indian fans online, many of whom questioned the move and expressed their disappointment on social media platforms.
Kavya Maran Seen at Auction Table
During the auction, Kavya Maran was seen sitting at the bidding table alongside head coach Daniel Vettori.
Before the auction began, there had been widespread speculation about whether teams with Indian ownership in The Hundred would place bids on Pakistani players. In earlier seasons, such players were often left unsold by these franchises.
Also Read –
| International Cricketer Ravi Bishnoi Appointed as DYSP, Chief Minister Hands Over Appointment Letter |
Franchise Social Media Account Suspended
Just a few hours after Abrar Ahmed’s signing, the official X (formerly Twitter) account of Sunrisers Leeds was reportedly suspended. While the platform did not immediately clarify the exact reason, users attempting to access the page saw a notification stating that the account had been suspended for violating platform rules.
First Time a Sunrisers Franchise Picked a Pakistani Player
Interestingly, the sister teams Sunrisers Hyderabad and Sunrisers Eastern Cape had never previously signed an active Pakistani cricketer.
In the auction for The Hundred, Sunrisers Leeds secured Abrar Ahmed after winning a competitive bidding battle against Trent Rockets.
Coach Explains the Decision
Head coach Daniel Vettori later revealed that the franchise sought advice from several Australian players who had recently played alongside Abrar Ahmed earlier in the year. Based on those recommendations, the team decided to include the spinner in their squad.Vettori also clarified that there was no internal meeting or predetermined plan within the franchise about selecting Pakistani players during the auction. The decision, he said, was purely based on cricketing considerations.