‘Boycott SRH’ Trends as Sunrisers Buy Pakistan Spinner in The Hundred Draft

The inaugural auction of the private ownership era of The Hundred on March 12, 2026, was expected to mark a celebratory moment for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Instead, it has triggered a heated controversy in India.

Sunrisers Leeds — a franchise owned by the Sun Group and linked to IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabad — found itself at the centre of a social media storm after securing Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed in Thursday’s auction.

The deal, reportedly worth £190,000 (around ₹2.34 crore), is notable as it marks the first time in several years that a franchise with Indian ownership has signed a Pakistani international cricketer. While the move has been viewed in the UK as a decision based purely on merit, it has drawn strong reactions from sections of Indian fans, some of whom have called for a boycott of the SunRisers brand.

The Hundred, an eight-team tournament played in England and Wales, will run from July 21 to August 16.

Social Media Backlash

The backlash stems largely from allegations regarding a series of social media posts reportedly shared by Abrar Ahmed in mid-2025. Following a period of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, the spinner allegedly shared posts that some Indian users claimed mocked the Indian Armed Forces.

Soon after the signing was announced, hashtags such as #ShameOnSRH and #BoycottSunrisers began trending on X, with critics accusing the franchise of ignoring national sentiment. Some social media users also criticised Kavya Maran — associated with the SunRisers brand — claiming she aggressively bid for Abrar during the auction in London.

One user wrote on X:
“For years Indian teams avoided Pakistani players out of respect for national sentiment. But the moment money and foreign leagues enter the picture, that spine disappears. Indian owner, Indian brand, zero national backbone.”

Indian-Owned Team Signs Pakistani Player

The development comes amid long-standing speculation that the four Indian-owned teams in The Hundred — SunRisers Leeds, MI London, Manchester Super Giants and Southern Brave — might avoid picking Pakistani players.

A similar pattern has been observed in franchise leagues such as SA20 and International League T20, where teams linked to IPL owners have historically not signed Pakistan internationals.

According to reports, the ECB had reminded the eight participating teams ahead of the auction that excluding players on the basis of nationality would violate UK anti-discrimination laws.

While several Pakistani stars — including Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub — went unsold in the early rounds of Thursday’s auction, SunRisers Leeds surprised many observers by outbidding Trent Rockets to secure Abrar Ahmed.

Notably, this season marks the first time Indian investors have taken ownership stakes in The Hundred franchises following the league’s privatisation last year.

Could Abrar Face a Mustafizur-Like Situation?

The controversy has also prompted speculation online about whether SunRisers Leeds could eventually reconsider the signing.

Some users drew parallels with a recent case involving Mustafizur Rahman and Kolkata Knight Riders. In January 2026, despite purchasing the Bangladeshi pacer for ₹9.20 crore in the Indian Premier League auction, KKR was reportedly directed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to terminate his contract following political pressure linked to developments in Bangladesh.

While SunRisers Leeds operates under the ECB’s jurisdiction, some observers believe that commercial or political pressure could still emerge given the franchise’s strong connections to the Indian market.

Cricketing Logic Behind the Pick

From a cricketing standpoint, however, the signing could prove to be a major boost for the team. Under head coach Daniel Vettori, the franchise has prioritised strengthening its spin options. Abrar Ahmed has developed a reputation as one of the most effective white-ball spinners in recent years, claiming 52 wickets in 38 T20 internationals at an impressive economy rate of 6.67.

SunRisers Leeds officials have maintained that the decision was made purely on cricketing merit and team requirements. Yet while the move may strengthen the squad on the field, it has also left the franchise navigating an unexpected public relations challenge among sections of its fan base in India.