Sunrisers Leeds acquire THIS Pakistan player in The Hundred 2026 auction; Know here

Sunrisers Leeds became the first Indian-owned franchise to buy a Pakistani player in The Hundred 2026 auction.

The first-ever The Hundred auction is being held in London on March 12 for the men’s teams. For the first time in its history, the competition entered the private market when the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sold 49% stakes of each team to external investors, mainly the owners of teams from the Indian Premier League (IPL). Even the remaining 51% stakes, which were given to the host counties, saw some portions later sold to the same investors.

The Hundred then faced allegations as rumours spread that teams would ignore Pakistani players in the auction. The Indian-owned franchises faced integrity questions, after which they came forward with the board to clear all the allegations.

As many as 14 Pakistan players were shortlisted for The Hundred 2026 auction, but Shaheen Shah Afridi later withdrew, reducing the list to 13 players.

Sunrisers Leeds picks Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred 2026 auction

However, on the day of the auction, Sunrisers Leeds scripted history as they became the first Indian-based franchise to pick Pakistan player in The Hundred 2026 auction. The Orange Army acquired Abrar Ahmed for $255,000.

There were several news agencies that reported in February that the four franchises The Hundred linked to the IPL would not consider Pakistan players, mirroring a ban that has been in place in India since 2009.

Abrar Ahmed being bought by a franchise completely controlled by the owners of Sunrisers Hyderabad is now being seen as a progressive step by some, but the sentiments in India are not the same.

Abrar Ahmed was known for mocking Indians on social media with his cryptic posts, and now that he has been bought in the auction by an Indian owner, many Indian fans are showing their anger toward the franchise.

The other Pakistani player to attract a bid was the mystery spinner Usman Tariq. Known for his unusual action, with an angular style and a long pause before releasing the ball, he has gained a lot of attention in a short span of time.

He was bought by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000 after a tough bidding battle with Trent Rockets. Interestingly, neither of these teams has any IPL owners involved with them.

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