Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed created a historic moment during the The Hundred player auction on Thursday after being signed by Sunrisers Leeds, a franchise owned by India’s Sun Group.
The franchise secured the spinner for £190,000 (approximately ₹2.34 crore) following a competitive bidding war with Trent Rockets.
With this signing, Abrar becomes the first Pakistan cricketer to be picked by an Indian-owned franchise in The Hundred, a significant development considering the long-standing absence of Pakistan players in Indian franchise leagues.
Shame on SRH man wtf disgusting.
— ayan (@TheUpperCut_) March 12, 2026
Paying so much money to a guy who openly mocks India on the Tea thing .
🤢🤢 https://t.co/WGHC4Rfp5d
End of Speculation Around Pakistan Players
Abrar Ahmed’s signing also puts an end to speculation that Indian-owned teams in The Hundred would avoid bidding for Pakistan players.
Franchises connected to the Indian Premier League have not included Pakistan cricketers since 2009, largely due to strained diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan.
However, the latest development suggests that such restrictions may not extend to overseas leagues like The Hundred.
Sun Group’s Growing Cricket Footprint
The Sun Group, which also owns Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, completed a full takeover of the former Northern Superchargers franchise last year.
The Chennai-based media conglomerate purchased 49% stake from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the remaining 51% from county club Yorkshire County Cricket Club for around £100 million, subsequently rebranding the team as Sunrisers Leeds.
At the auction, Kavya Maran, CEO of the Sunrisers group, personally represented the franchise and handled the bidding.
The group also owns Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20, though the team currently does not feature any Pakistan players.
Other Pakistan Players in the Auction
Abrar Ahmed was the second Pakistan player to be sold during the auction.
Earlier, mystery spinner Usman Tariq was picked by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000 (around ₹1.72 crore).
However, Birmingham Phoenix does not have ownership ties with IPL franchises.
Meanwhile, Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf and off-spin all-rounder Saim Ayub went unsold during the auction.
The Hundred 2026 Schedule
The upcoming season of The Hundred is scheduled to run from July 21 to August 16, featuring eight men’s and women’s teams competing in the 100-ball format tournament.
Abrar Ahmed’s signing is expected to add intrigue to the competition while also highlighting how global franchise leagues continue to bring together players from across traditional cricketing rivalries.