New Delhi: The owners of the Indian Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad are facing severe criticism for signing Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed at the inaugural Hundred auction.
The Hyderabad-based Sun Group, owners of IPL side SRH, acquired 100% stake in the Leeds-based Hundred franchise in late 2025, and their move to sign Abrar Ahmed ended fears of Pakistan’s players’ exclusion from England’s flagship white-ball tournament due to Indian owners’ involvement.
Abrar at Headingley, soon 👏
[Play With Fire | SunRisers Leeds] pic.twitter.com/Yqm204j091
— SunRisers Leeds (@sunrisersleeds) March 12, 2026
However, the franchise paid the price when social media fans slammed the IPL franchise owners for picking a player who mocked the Indian Army with a Tea gesture.
Fans slam Sunrisers Hyderabad for signing Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed
Shame on SRH man wtf disgusting.
Paying so much money to a guy who openly mocks India on the Tea thing .
🤢🤢 https://t.co/WGHC4Rfp5d— ayan (@TheUpperCut_) March 12, 2026
Kavya Maran owned franchise picked, Abrar Ahmed who mocked Abhinandan and Indian Army.
Not watching a single match of SRH in IPL @SunRisers#TheHundredAuction pic.twitter.com/fpsk4rkhbL
— Not Your Coffee ☕ (@wacky_guy) March 12, 2026
🚨 Kavya Maran’s franchise Sunrisers Leeds acquired Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed for £190k.
Abrar was literally used to mock India with the having tea picture and used to mock Indian players with unwanted celebrations in Asia Cup.
Shame on you SRH 🤦
pic.twitter.com/U0xvq072Eo— Tejash (@Tejashyyyyy) March 12, 2026
Sunrisers-owned Leeds team in the hundred league picking Abrar Ahmed is peak hypocrisy
All that chest thumping about values and cultures vanishes the moment the auction hammer drops pic.twitter.com/vQFWSWi9uw
— Ash (@Ashsay_) March 12, 2026
Abrar’s signing marks the first time that a franchise linked to the IPL has signed a Pakistani cricketer in an overseas league auction. It also ended fears of a ‘shadow ban’ on Pakistan players due to the political tensions between the two countries.
Kavya Maran’s SunRisers Leeds signed Abrar for £190,000 (approximately Rs 2.34 crore) after winning an intense bidding war with Trent Rockets.
Abrar’s Pakistani teammate, Usman Tariq, who has been in the headlines due to his unorthodox action, was roped in by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000 (approximately Rs 1.72 crore) in the inaugural Hundred auction.