Abrar Ahmed Picked by Sunrisers Leeds; Controversial Gamble Explained

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Pakistan mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed has been signed by Sunrisers Leeds during The Hundred men's auction, becoming the first Pakistani cricketer to be picked by an Indian-owned franchise in the tournament.

The franchise, owned by Sun TV, secured Abrar for USD 255,000 after missing out on England leg-spinner Adil Rashid earlier in the auction.

However, the move has triggered criticism from sections of Indian fans on social media, with many questioning the decision amid ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan.

Vettori explains why Abrar Ahmed was picked

Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori said the decision to sign Abrar was purely based on team requirements and availability during the auction.

"Once we missed out on Adil Rashid, who was a priority early on, then we obviously jumped into the overseas spinner. There were four or five guys that we were looking at, and Abrar was one of them. Very pleased to get him," Vettori said after the auction.

The franchise had initially targeted Rashid as their primary spin option but shifted focus once he was picked by another team.

Sunrisers Leeds' radar

Vettori revealed that Abrar was not the only Pakistani spinner the franchise had considered. Birmingham Phoenix also signed Usman Tariq in the auction, while Bangladesh's Rishad Hossain was another name discussed by the management.

"We just planned for everyone who was in the auction. There wasn't a discussion about not picking Pakistan players. It was just a matter of who was the best option," Vettori said.

"After we missed out on Adil Rashid, the priority was going to get a spin bowler, and we didn't think that quality was in the local market, so we had to jump overseas. Rishad Hussain, Usman Tariq and Abrar Ahmed were all guys that were on our radar."

Why Abrar Ahmed fits Sunrisers Leeds

Vettori also highlighted Abrar's mystery spin and ability to take wickets in different phases of the innings as key reasons behind the selection.

"It's a bit of a mystery. I don't think many English players have seen him. The feedback from the Australian guys was that he was going to be tricky to face, with a lot of variations and an ability to strike in the powerplay and through the middle stages," he said.

Spinners have historically been effective at Headingley, Sunrisers Leeds' home venue, making Abrar's inclusion an important tactical addition to the squad.

Abrar Ahmed was the second Pakistani player picked in the auction, after Usman Tariq was earlier signed by Birmingham Phoenix.