Indian-owned Sunrisers face backlash after signing Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed

Al JazeeraEN 2 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffMarch 14, 2026 at 09:45 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

In March 2026, Sunrisers Leeds, an Indian-owned franchise in the Hundred cricket league in England, signed Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed. The signing sparked a social media backlash, with many questioning the patriotism of the Indian owners due to the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan. Pakistani cricketers have been absent from the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2009. The controversy arose after Abrar's past social media posts mocking India and calling for a boycott of the IPL's Sunrisers Hyderabad resurfaced. Usman Tariq was the only other Pakistani player bought in the auction, while the two Pakistani players in the women’s auction went unsold.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Leeds ×230% Sadia Iqbal 30% Fatima Sana 30% Birmingham Phoenix 40% United States 40% Usman Tariq 50% Sunrisers Hyderabad 50% Indian Premier League (IPL) ×370% Pakistan ×780% India ×680% Sunrisers Leeds ×380% Abrar Ahmed ×490%

Keywords

india-pakistan relations 90% cricket controversy 80% abrar ahmed 80% sunrisers leeds 70% ipl 60% social media backlash 50% patriotism 50% hundred franchise 40%