Sunrisers Leeds made headlines by signing Abrar Ahmed at The Hundred Auction 2026, despite the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan. The franchise, owned by an India-based group that also owns Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, acquired Abrar for 190,000 pounds. This move defied expectations, as there were reports suggesting that IPL-owned teams would not bid on Pakistani players. The signing highlighted the growing ownership ties between The Hundred and the Indian Premier League, with four tournament franchises having links to IPL teams.
Kavya Maran, alongside head coach Daniel Vettori, clinched the deal for Ahmed at the auction. This decision was significant as Pakistani players have not participated in the IPL since 2008 due to political issues. Sunrisers’ decision to recruit a Pakistani cricketer for the first time sparked discussions online. In a separate development, Usman Tariq was picked by Birmingham Phoenix, while players like Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan went unsold at the auction. The 2026 season of The Hundred, featuring both men’s and women’s tournaments, is set to commence on July 21.
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