Abrar becomes first Pakistani player to be signed by an Indian-owned team in THE Hundred
New Delhi, March 13: The decision of Sunrisers Leeds to sign Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed during the auction of The Hundred has triggered intense debate among Indian cricket followers.
What has drawn equal attention, however, is the response of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, which has chosen to distance itself entirely from the development.
The franchise, owned by the Chennai-based Sun Group — the same group that runs Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League — signed the Pakistan mystery spinner for £190,000 (around ₹2.34 crore) after a bidding contest with Trent Rockets.
The move is notable because Indian franchises in the IPL have not signed Pakistani cricketers since 2009 amid strained relations between India and Pakistan.
Yet when asked about the matter, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla made it clear that the board does not intend to intervene.
“It doesn’t concern us. It’s not the IPL. What happens in The Hundred or other overseas leagues, we have nothing to do with it,” Shukla told PTI.
The remark has effectively allowed the BCCI to wash its hands of the issue, despite the fact that the franchise involved is owned by the same corporate group that operates an IPL team.
While technically correct that the Hundred falls outside the BCCI’s jurisdiction, critics argue that the board’s response reflects a convenient interpretation of responsibility.
For years, the absence of Pakistani players in the IPL has been presented as a reflection of national sentiment and political realities.
The league — widely considered the most influential franchise tournament in world cricket — has maintained that stance for over a decade.
However, when an Indian-owned franchise operating abroad signs a Pakistani cricketer, the BCCI’s position appears to suddenly shift to one of complete detachment.
Such a stance raises uncomfortable questions. If the board expects franchises within India to adhere to certain unwritten sensitivities, can it realistically claim no interest when the same ownership groups operate teams in foreign leagues? The argument that it is an “overseas matter” may offer administrative cover, but it also exposes a glaring inconsistency in the board’s approach. The background of the franchise itself further complicates the narrative.
The Sun Group completed a full takeover of the erstwhile Northern Superchargers last year, acquiring a 49 per cent stake from the England and Wales Cricket Board and the remaining 51 per cent from Yorkshire County Cricket Club for around £100 million before rebranding the side as Sunrisers Leeds.During Thursday’s auction, Sunrisers CEO Kavya Maran was present and actively participated in the bidding that secured Abrar’s services.
Ironically, while the BCCI has historically projected itself as the guardian of Indian cricket’s interests and sentiments, in this instance the board has chosen the simplest route — distancing itself from the controversy altogether. By declaring the matter outside its jurisdiction, the BCCI has effectively avoided addressing the larger question of whether Indian franchise owners should follow the same sensitivities abroad that they are expected to follow at home.
Technically, the board may be correct in stating that The Hundred is not its tournament. But for many observers, the issue is not merely about jurisdiction. It is about consistency, responsibility, and whether the world’s most powerful cricket board is willing to look the other way when convenient. (Agencies)
