Abrar Ahmed signed by IPL-linked Hundred team amid boycott speculation

Pakistani leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed was signed by the Indian-owned Sunrisers Leeds for £190,000 in The Hundred's inaugural player auction, a move that countered earlier media reports suggesting franchises with Indian Premier League (IPL) links would exclude players from Pakistan

In February, speculation arose that four IPL-affiliated teams would not sign Pakistani talent due to ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan In response, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) wrote to all eight franchises to reiterate their anti-discrimination policies, stating that players must not be excluded based on nationality Sunrisers Leeds coach Adi Birrell later confirmed he was never instructed to avoid signing Pakistani players

Abrar's signing is notable given the political backdrop that has often impacted cricketing ties between the two nations, and has seen Pakistani cricketers largely absent from the IPL Another Pakistani player, spinner Usman Tariq, was also signed by Birmingham Phoenix However, other Pakistani cricketers in the men's auction went unsold, as did the two Pakistan internationals in the women's auction held a day prior

The auction, the first of its kind for a major British sport, highlighted the tournament's new financial power following the sale of stakes in all eight teams This investment has led to a significant increase in player salaries for both men and women