Breaking barriers in English cricket, Sunrisers Leeds outbid rivals to sign Pakistani leg-spinner Abrar Ahmad for £190,000 (2.3 crore rupees) at Thursday’s Men’s Hundred auction. This historic move makes him the first Pakistani international for an Indian-backed team in the tournament.
Starting at £75,000, Abrar’s price soared amid a tense showdown with Trent Rockets. Sun TV, fresh off buying the rebranded Northern Superchargers franchise, showed no hesitation despite IPL owners’ long-standing reluctance to pick Pakistanis post-2009.
The ECB’s merit-focused auction rules paved the way, contrasting Wednesday’s women’s draft where no Pakistani women were selected. Abrar was the second Pakistani off the board after Usman Tariq’s £140,000 sale to Birmingham Phoenix; high-profiles like Shadab Khan remained unsold.
Leeds wasted no time, also grabbing Ryan Rickelton, Jack Crawley, Matt Potts, and Dan Lawrence. With Brydon Carse, Mitchell Marsh, and Nathan Ellis already in fold, captain Harry Brook and coach Daniel Vettori have a potent mix for the 2026 season—July 21 to August 16, featuring 34 matches each for men and women.
As Sun TV expands its global footprint, this coup challenges norms and injects fresh excitement into The Hundred, promising dynamic spin battles.