The controversy surrounding the signing of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed by the Sunrisers franchise in England’s The Hundred has sparked widespread debate in India, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) clarifying that it has no jurisdiction over overseas leagues.
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla stated that the Indian cricket board cannot intervene in the decision taken by the franchise, which is owned by the Sun TV Network.
“This is not at all concerned with the Indian Premier League (IPL). It’s an overseas league and does not fall under our domain. We cannot do anything about it. The franchise itself will have to take a call,” Shukla said while responding to questions over the controversy.
Social Media Backlash Against Sunrisers
The signing of Abrar Ahmed has triggered a massive backlash on social media, with several users criticising the franchise for acquiring a Pakistani cricketer despite the prevailing national sentiment in India.
The franchise owner Kavya Maran has also faced criticism online, while the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of Sunrisers Leeds was reportedly suspended amid the controversy.
So far, the Sunrisers management has not issued any official response regarding the criticism in India.
Abrar Ahmed Picked for £190,000
During the players’ auction on Thursday, the World No.3 T20I bowler Abrar Ahmed was bought by the Sunrisers franchise for £190,000 (around USD 255,000).
At the auction table were head coach Daniel Vettori and owner Kavya Maran, who placed the winning bid after outbidding the Trent Rockets.
Following the purchase, Vettori explained that the team decided to go after Abrar once England leg-spinner Adil Rashid was picked by another franchise.
He also revealed that Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq had been under consideration, but the team dropped further plans for another spinner after successfully securing Abrar.
Rumours of ‘Shadow Ban’ on Pakistan Players
The development has also reignited discussions about a reported “shadow ban” on Pakistani players in teams owned by Indian investors in The Hundred.
Four franchises in the league currently have investment from Indian owners, a development that came into effect in October 2025. Since then, speculation had been rife that teams with Indian ownership would avoid signing Pakistani cricketers.
However, Sunrisers’ decision to sign Abrar Ahmed has effectively put those rumours to rest.
Interestingly, only two Pakistani players were sold in the men’s Hundred auction — Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq.
Similar Controversy Earlier With KKR
This is not the first time a franchise associated with Indian ownership has faced backlash over overseas player selections.
Earlier this year, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) drew criticism on social media after signing Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman. The criticism intensified amid tensions following reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.
The situation eventually de-escalated after the BCCI reportedly intervened and asked KKR to release the pacer from the squad.
In a separate development, Bangladesh later opted not to travel to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and the team was replaced by Scotland national cricket team in the 20-team tournament, which was eventually won by India national cricket team.
Debate Continues
While the BCCI has clarified that it cannot intervene in franchise decisions in foreign leagues, the controversy surrounding Abrar Ahmed’s signing continues to fuel debate online, with many fans urging the franchise management to reconsider the move.
