"Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed was bought by Sunrisers Leeds for 190,000 pounds ($254,000) in the men's auction for the Hundred, despite concerns that Indian-owned teams might avoid signing cricketers from Pakistan. In February, media reports suggested that Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds would not consider signing Pakistani players for the United Kingdom-based competition amid tensions between neighbours India and Pakistan."
"Following the report, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and all eight franchises stressed that players must not be excluded from selection based on nationality. Abrar has played 38 Twenty20s for Pakistan since making his debut in 2024, taking 52 wickets with an economy rate of 6.67."
"Sunrisers opened the bidding for the 27-year-old at 130,000 pounds ($174,000) before raising their bid to fend off interest from Trent Rockets at the auction in London on Thursday. Trent Rockets, who are not Indian-owned, also attempted to sign Abrar's compatriot Usman Tariq, who ultimately joined Birmingham Phoenix for 140,000 pounds ($187,000)."
Pakistani leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed was purchased by Sunrisers Leeds for 190,000 pounds in the men's Hundred auction, defying earlier media reports suggesting Indian-owned franchises would avoid signing Pakistani cricketers due to India-Pakistan tensions. The ECB and all eight franchises subsequently affirmed that players cannot be excluded based on nationality. Abrar, 27, has played 38 Twenty20s for Pakistan since 2024, taking 52 wickets with a 6.67 economy rate. Sunrisers opened bidding at 130,000 pounds and raised their offer to outbid Trent Rockets. Other Pakistani players had mixed results: Usman Tariq joined Birmingham Phoenix for 140,000 pounds, Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrew, and Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf went unsold. The Hundred runs from July 21 to August 16.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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