Boycott Sunrisers Trend...Controversy Over Abrar Ahmed’s Selection

The selection of Abrar Ahmed by Sunrisers Leeds in the upcoming The Hundred has triggered a heated debate on social media. The team is owned by the Sun Group, which also owns Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. During the auction in London, Abrar Ahmed was signed for around ₹2.34 crore. The move has drawn strong reactions online, with some fans criticizing the franchise for signing a Pakistani player after several years. On the social media platform X, hashtags such as BoycottSunrisers and ShameOnSRH began trending.

The controversy intensified after some users pointed to Abrar Ahmed’s alleged social media posts from 2025 that were claimed to be critical of the Indian Army. Critics argue that signing such a player is disrespectful to the nation, and some fans have also directed their anger at Sunrisers brand CEO Kavya Maran, who reportedly placed the winning bid during the auction. However, the situation is also influenced by anti-discrimination laws in the United Kingdom, which prevent teams from excluding players based on nationality. According to analysts, Indian-owned teams including Sunrisers Leeds could not continue any unofficial policy of avoiding Pakistani players. Meanwhile, several cricket experts have defended the decision, noting that Abrar Ahmed is among the most effective white-ball spinners in world cricket, having taken 52 wickets in his last 38 T20 matches. Team officials stated that the selection was made purely on the basis of skill and squad requirements.