IPL 2026: Could Buying a Pakistani Player in 'The Hundred' Prove Costly for Sunrisers? They Might Face Losses in the IPL.

'The Hundred' league, organized under the aegis of the England Cricket Board (ECB), has become a hot topic of discussion. A massive controversy erupted following the league's auction held on Thursday. Specifically, the auction for 'The Hundred' took place on March 12. Sunrisers Leeds—owned by India's Sun Group—acquired Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed during the auction. Now, reports suggest that Sunrisers Leeds' decision to purchase Abrar Ahmed could prove costly for the franchise. Indian cricket fans are labeling this move by Sunrisers as "anti-national."

Threats to Boycott Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Leeds is affiliated with the IPL franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad. Consequently, fans on social media are threatening to boycott Sunrisers Hyderabad in the upcoming IPL season. Critics argue that acquiring a player who allegedly posted content mocking the Indian Army on social media in 2025 amounts to prioritizing the team owners' profit-making motives over national sentiments. It is worth noting that Sunrisers Leeds surprised everyone by outbidding Trent Rockets to sign Abrar.

Were Pakistani Players Not Supposed to be Bid Upon?

Prior to the auction, it was widely speculated that the four Indian-owned teams participating in 'The Hundred'—Sunrisers Leeds, MI London, Manchester Super Giants, and Southern Brave—would refrain from bidding on Pakistani players. However, the ECB had issued a warning to all eight teams before the auction, stating that refusing to select players based on their nationality would constitute a violation of the UK's anti-discrimination laws. Typically, Indian-owned franchises do not sign Pakistani players in other leagues such as the SA20 and ILT20. Sunrisers Leeds ultimately acquired Abrar as part of a strategic decision led by their Head Coach, Daniel Vettori.

Sunrisers Face Challenges

Franchise officials stated that the selection was based entirely on cricketing merit and the team's requirements. This signing dispelled fears of a 'shadow ban,' but the franchise now faces the challenge of managing a PR crisis within its key commercial market in India.