Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla has clarified that the board has no authority to intervene in the controversy surrounding the Sunrisers franchise’s signing of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed for the upcoming hundred-match season.
The Sun TV-owned team faced heavy criticism on social media platforms after acquiring Abrar during the player auction. Many users in India expressed their anger at the decision, citing the national mood at the time. Franchise owner Kavya Maran has also been targeted by cyberattacks, while Sunrisers Leeds’ official X (formerly Twitter) account has reportedly been suspended amid the backlash.
Despite the growing criticism, the team has yet to issue an official statement. However, Shukla on Friday made it clear that the matter does not fall under the BCCI’s jurisdiction as the match is being held outside India.
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“This has absolutely nothing to do with the IPL. This is an overseas league. It is not under our jurisdiction. There is nothing we can do. They have to answer the call,” Shukla told news agency ANI on Friday afternoon.
At Thursday’s auction, bowler Abrar, currently ranked third in the world in T20 internationals, was acquired by the team for £190,000 (approximately $255,000). At the auction table, head coach Daniel Vettori and Malan beat out Trent Rockets to make successful bids.
Sunrisers management explains decision to sign Abra Ahmed
After the signing, Vettori explained that the team was targeting Abrar after missing out on England spinner Adil Rashid, who had already been picked by another team. He also mentioned that Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq was earlier part of the franchise plan but after Abrar was identified, the management decided not to pursue another spinner.
In October 2025, India’s investment in the Top 100 tournament increased significantly, with the four participating teams receiving support from Indian owners. Since then, there have been rumors that teams with Indian ownership may avoid signing Pakistani players. Sunrisers’ move to acquire Abrar effectively dispels these rumors.
In fact, only two Pakistani cricketers were selected in this year’s men’s hundred auction: Abrar and Tariq. Still, the Sunrisers’ decision sparked a strong reaction in India, with many fans urging the team to reconsider the signing.
The backlash is not the first controversy involving IPL-related franchises
This is not the first instance of IPL-related teams being criticized for foreign signings. Earlier this year, Kolkata Knight Riders faced backlash after including Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman in the squad. Criticism intensified after reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. Eventually, the situation cooled down after the BCCI stepped in and directed KKR to release the left-arm pacer.
The fallout from the incident has also affected international cricket. Bangladesh later refused to travel to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, forcing the tournament organizers to replace them with the Scotland national cricket team in the 20-team tournament, which was ultimately won by the Indian national cricket team.
