Sunrisers Leeds have sparked a strong negative reaction on social media following their acquisition of Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed for the Indian-owned Hundred franchise. Due to the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, cricket matches between the two nations are limited to major international tournaments.
Since 2009, Pakistani cricketers have not participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to the deep-rooted diplomatic issues between the countries. Speculation arose that Pakistani players in the recent Hundred auction might face an unspoken restriction, with IPL-linked teams refraining from bidding on them.
Despite concerns, the Leeds-based Sunrisers successfully secured Abrar for £190,000 ($252,000). Another Pakistani player, Usman Tariq, was acquired by American-backed Birmingham Phoenix, while two female Pakistani players, Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal, remained unsold in the women’s auction.
The England and Wales Cricket Board affirmed that all eight city-based franchises in the 100-ball-a-side competition would base selections solely on performance. However, Sunrisers faced severe backlash from some Indian cricket enthusiasts following Abrar’s signing.
The @SunrisersLeeds account on X faced a temporary suspension but resumed operation with a new follower base, with commentary mainly focusing on Abrar’s recruitment. Similar sentiments were echoed on the club’s Instagram page, and the controversy spilled over to Sunrisers Hyderabad, also owned by the Sun Group media conglomerate.