Hundred Auction 2026: SunRisers Leeds Secure Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed Amid IPL Link Speculations

NEW DELHI: In a significant development at the Hundred Player Auction 2026, Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed was acquired by SunRisers Leeds for £190,000 on Thursday. This move by the Indian-owned franchise, co-owned by Kavya Maran, ended speculations that teams with links to the Indian Premier League (IPL) might avoid signing Pakistani players.

The bidding war for the mystery spinner saw SunRisers Leeds outmaneuver Trent Rockets to clinch the deal. Earlier in the auction, Usman Tariq marked the first acquisition of a Pakistani player when Birmingham Phoenix signed him for £140,000.

However, the auction was not entirely favorable for Pakistan, as several prominent stars went unsold. Fast bowler Haris Rauf and all-rounders Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub did not attract any bids at the time of reporting. Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi had withdrawn from the auction prior to its commencement, citing likely scheduling conflicts with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and other international duties. The ECB also confirmed withdrawals by Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, AM Ghazanfar, and Peter Siddle for similar reasons.

Despite Afridi's withdrawal, 13 Pakistani players remained in the men's auction pool. The scenario drew attention due to rumors surrounding IPL affiliations, prompting the ECB and the eight franchises to issue a joint statement. They clarified that selections would be based solely on "performance, availability, and the needs of each team."

In the women's auction, held a day earlier, Pakistan faced a complete setback with no players selected. Muneeba Ali, Diana Baig, Sadia Iqbal, and captain Fatima Sana entered with a base price of £15,000 but received no bids.