(Image source from: AFP)
Amid the excitement over Pakistani cricketer Abrar Ahmed being signed by Sunrisers Leeds during The Hundred auction, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla stated on Friday that the Board cannot get involved as this signing pertains to an overseas league, and the franchise must make its own decision. In an interview with ANI, Shukla mentioned, "This is outside our area of control (IPL); they did this for a foreign league. The franchise will have to make the decision; we are unable to do anything".
Sunrisers Leeds acquired the leg-spinner for £190,000 (US$255,000) in the first men’s Hundred auction held in London, making him the first Pakistani player to be signed by an Indian-owned team in the tournament. The signing has led to criticism on social media directed at Sunrisers Leeds co-owner Kavya Maran, as critics highlighted alleged comments made by the 27-year-old spinner that mocked the Indian Air Force and Army during the events surrounding Operation Sindoor in May of the previous year.
As reported by ESPNcricinfo, the Indian media company Sun TV fully took over the franchise, previously known as Northern Superchargers, last year. They purchased a 49 percent share from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the remaining 51 percent from Yorkshire for about £100 million. Shares in three other Hundred teams were also acquired by investors who own IPL franchises. Sunrisers, along with their sister teams Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20, had never previously signed an active player from Pakistan. The Leeds team secured Abrar after winning a bidding competition against Trent Rockets just before the lunch break. There were doubts regarding whether the four franchises held by IPL investors would bid for Pakistani players amid concerns of a possible 'shadow-ban,' even though the eight teams had assured selections would be made based on "performance, availability, and the team’s needs. "
Abrar was the second Pakistani player to be sold in the auction following Usman Tariq, who was signed by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000 (US$187,000). Trent Rockets and Phoenix are co-owned by their local counties, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire, respectively, along with American investor groups. Pakistani players have participated in various global T20 leagues that are owned or partly owned by IPL franchises, yet no current Pakistani international player has competed in the IPL since 2008 due to ongoing geopolitical issues between India and Pakistan.
