The 2026 player auction for The Hundred has unexpectedly stirred debate online after Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed was picked by Sunrisers Leeds. The decision quickly triggered reactions on social media, with some fans criticising the franchise for signing a Pakistani cricketer.Sunrisers Leeds, which is backed by the same ownership group behind Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL), secured the 27-year-old spinner for £190,000 during the men’s auction. Soon after the franchise shared the news online, the move became a talking point, with several posts directly targeting franchise co-owner Kavya Maran.Even as the debate intensified, organisers of The Hundred had previously made it clear that auction selections would be determined strictly on cricketing merit.
How the controversy began
The discussion began shortly after Sunrisers Leeds announced Abrar Ahmed’s signing on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). While many fans welcomed the addition, a section of users questioned the decision, pointing out the franchise’s links to an IPL team.Some posts criticised the idea of a team connected to the IPL—where Pakistani players have not participated for years—signing a cricketer from Pakistan. Because of these associations, much of the online criticism ended up directed at Kavya Maran, who is connected to the ownership structure of both Sunrisers Hyderabad and Sunrisers Leeds.The reaction also reflects the long-standing political tensions between India and Pakistan, which have often influenced cricketing ties between the two nations.
Sunrisers Leeds’ X account suddenly suspended
Adding another twist to the situation, the official X account of Sunrisers Leeds was suspended shortly after the Abrar Ahmed signing announcement.At present, the platform has not given any clear explanation for the suspension. Anyone trying to visit the page now sees a standard message that reads: “Account suspended.”In general, accounts on X are suspended when they are believed to have violated the platform’s policies, though the exact reason in this case has not been publicly confirmed.
Why the signing drew attention
Pakistani cricketers have not taken part in the Indian Premier League since 2009. Following political tensions between India and Pakistan, players from Pakistan have effectively been absent from the tournament.Since then, the two countries have mainly faced each other in international competitions such as ICC events.Because of this history, there had been speculation ahead of the 2026 Hundred auction that teams linked to IPL franchises might avoid picking players from Pakistan altogether.However, officials had already addressed such concerns before the auction began.
ECB clarified selection would be based on merit
Prior to the auction, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the tournament’s eight franchises released a joint statement regarding the selection process.The statement emphasised that player recruitment would be guided purely by cricketing factors. According to the organisers, teams would focus on performance levels, player availability and squad requirements rather than nationality or political considerations.
Other Pakistan players in the auction
Abrar Ahmed was not the only Pakistan cricketer involved in the 2026 auction.Another spinner, Usman Tariq, successfully secured a deal with Birmingham Phoenix, signing for £140,000.However, several other Pakistan players experienced mixed outcomes. Fast bowler Haris Rauf remained unsold despite entering the auction with a base price of £100,000. Meanwhile, star left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi had already withdrawn from the auction before it took place.Pakistan players also had limited success in the women’s auction. Cricketers Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal both went without bids during the selection process.
When The Hundred 2026 begins
The upcoming edition of The Hundred will once again feature both men’s and women’s competitions.The tournament is scheduled to begin on July 21, 2026, and will run for roughly four weeks, bringing together top players from around the world.Despite the controversy surrounding one signing, the competition is expected to attract global attention as teams prepare for another season of the fast-paced 100-ball format.