ISLAMABAD: BCCI Vice-President Breaks Silence on Pakistani Spinner Abrar Ahmed’s Inclusion in Indian-Owned Team for The Hundred
New Delhi/London: BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla has addressed the controversy surrounding Pakistani leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed being signed by the Indian-owned franchise Sunrisers Leeds for the 2026 edition of The Hundred league in England.
In his statement to ANI, Shukla clarified: “This is a matter related to a foreign league, not our IPL. It does not fall under our jurisdiction.
The franchise owners made this decision in an overseas tournament where they hold ownership.
We cannot interfere or do anything about it, it’s entirely up to them.”
Background of the Issue: During the inaugural men’s players’ auction for The Hundred 2026 held in London, Sunrisers Leeds, the sister franchise of IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad, owned by the Sun Group and represented by CEO Kavya Maran, acquired Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 (approximately Rs 2.34 crore or $255,000).
This makes him the first Pakistani player signed by an Indian-owned team in the tournament’s history.
The move has sparked significant backlash on social media in India, with heavy criticism directed at the franchise owners for including a Pakistani cricketer amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Reports indicate that Sunrisers Leeds’ official X (Twitter) account was even suspended shortly after the announcement due to the intense online reaction.
Shukla emphasized that the BCCI’s authority is limited to the IPL and has no control over decisions in external leagues like The Hundred.
