Pakistani Spinner Signed by IPL Franchise in The Hundred

Pakistani leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed has become one of the most expensive overseas spinners in The Hundred after Sunrisers Leeds secured him for £190,000 following an intense bidding contest.

Abrar entered the auction with a base price of £75,000, but competitive bids quickly doubled his value before Sunrisers Leeds officially confirmed the high-profile signing.

This move marks Abrar as the first Pakistani player selected by an IPL-owned or IPL-linked franchise in The Hundred, challenging speculation that such teams might avoid Pakistani talent.

The increasing demand of Abrar is driven by consistent performances across domestic and international cricket, including eye-catching spells at the T20 World Cup 2026 that boosted his global reputation.

As of early 2026, Abrar is ranked fourth in the ICC Men’s T20I Bowling Rankings, highlighting his reliability and skill across all three formats of the international game.

Earlier in the draft, Usman Tariq became the first Pakistani men’s player selected, joining Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000, underscoring a gradual rise of Pakistani representation in the tournament.

However, notable Pakistani names including Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, and Shadab Khan went unsold, while Shaheen Shah Afridi chose to withdraw from the auction entirely, raising questions about selection patterns.

In the women’s draft, no Pakistani players were picked, leaving top talent such as captain Fatima Sana and leading bowler Sadia Iqbal without contracts and continuing debates about market bias.

Reports last month suggested franchises linked to the Indian Premier League were unlikely to select Pakistani cricketers in The Hundred draft, a practice some media outlets described as a “shadow ban.”

In response, the ECB issued a directive to all eight Hundred franchises, reminding them that players must never be excluded based on nationality and that selection should remain fair and merit-based.

The board emphasized that team choices must rely solely on cricketing performance, availability, and squad requirements, reaffirming its commitment to an inclusive tournament accessible to players of all nationalities.

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