BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla said the cricket body has nothing to say when it comes to Sunrisers Leeds buying Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed in the hundred. Sunrisers Leeds grabbed everyone’s attention on Thursday March 12 when they spent £190,000 on Abrar. Kavya Maran, CEO of the franchise and central figure in its management, was present at the auction table during the event.
She was joined by head coach Daniel Vettori at the Piccadilly Lights in London on Thursday, where Sunrisers Leeds successfully overcame Trent Rockets to secure the services of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed. The move marked a rare development as it was the first time in several years that the Indian Premier League (IPL)-linked franchise had signed a Pakistani player.
STO 2026: COMPLETE FOURS
The decision drew strong reactions from a section of Indian fans, with some calling for a boycott of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. shortly after Sunrisers Leeds account on X has become inaccessible because he was suspended from the social media platform.
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While talking to ANI on Friday, Mr. Shukla said that BCCI’s domain is limited to IPL and they cannot interfere in what is happening in the hundred with Sunrisers Leeds. The BCCI vice president also said that it is purely up to the franchise to decide who they want to sign or not.
“Our domain is limited to IPL. We have nothing to do with what they do in the league outside it. How can we interfere with them signing a player in a foreign league. That is up to them. It is purely on the franchise that has bought a team outside India. If they take any player from outside India in this league, we have the least concern because there is no such player in IPL for Shukla,” he told ANI.
#WATCH | Delhi | On Sunrisers Leeds signing Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed for The Hundred 2026 season, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla says, “…Our domain is limited to IPL, we don’t care what happens in other leagues… Obviously it depends on the franchise. pic.twitter.com/ppfmbxN1w3— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2026
WHY DID SUNRISERS LEEDS SIGN ABRAR?
Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori has backed the franchise’s decision to bring in Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed, saying the team was “very pleased” to sign him after failing to get their first-class spin option in the auction.
“Once we missed Adil Rashid (to Southern Brave), who was a priority early on, then of course we jumped into the overseas spinner. There were four or five guys we were looking at and Abrar was one of them,” Vettori said after the auction.
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Published on:
13 March 2026 15:18 IST
