"Absolute Disgrace": SRH Owners Face Backlash Over Rs 2.34 Crore Bid For Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed During The Hundred Auction
Sunrisers Leeds, owned by Chennai-based media conglomerate Sun Group, on Thursday bought mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed during the Hundred player auction, making him the first Pakistan player to be signed by an Indian-owned franchise in the tournament.
Sunrisers Leeds, owned by Chennai-based media conglomerate Sun Group, on Thursday bought mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed during the Hundred player auction, making him the first Pakistan player to be signed by an Indian-owned franchise in the tournament. The Sunrisers gave GBP 190,000 (Rs 2.34 crore approximately) to acquire the services of Ahmed after a bidding war with Trent Rockets. His signing also put to rest the talks that Indian Hundred owners will not bid for Pakistan players, as the franchises from the IPL have not engaged them since 2009 owing to strained diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring nations.
The Sun Group, which also owns the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, completed a full takeover of erstwhile Northern Superchargers last year, buying a 49% stake from the ECB and the remaining 51% from county club Yorkshire for around GBP 100 million. The Sunrisers CEO Kavya Maran attended the auction and did the paddle-raising duty.
They also own Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 but don't have a Pakistan player in their roster.
However, the SRH owners came under the scanner over the acquisition of Abrar.
Here's how internet reacted:
These people are just bothered about money. Shame on SRH to pick the pakistani who mocks Indians. Fans should make them pay the price by shaming them in IPL
— Anil Kumar (@Anilnair1313) March 12, 2026
Black day for srh fans...
— vikasgupta (@vikasguptaomega) 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
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
Abrar was the second Pakistan player sold during the auction after another mystery spinner Usman Tariq was bought by Birmingham Phoenix for GBP 140,000 (Rs 1.72 crore approximately).
However, Phoenix have no IPL connection. Pakistan Pacer Harris Rauf and off-spin all-rounder Saim Ayub were earlier went unsold.
The League will run from July 21 to August 16.
(With Added Inputs)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan Cricket Team
Sunrisers Hyderabad