Sunrisers Leeds picked Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred auction after missing out on Adil Rashid. Team aimed for the best spinner and secured Abrar for Rs 2.34 crore.

Sunrisers Leeds have stirred controversy after picking Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed in their squad for the upcoming edition of The Hundred, leading to social media backlash. Despite criticism, the team’s management has clarified the rationale behind their decision.

Sunrisers Leeds’ Strategy Behind Abrar Ahmed The Hundred Pick

According to Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori, the franchise initially aimed to secure England spinner Adil Rashid, who was later picked by Southern Brave for GBP 250,000 (approximately Rs 3.08 crore). After missing out on Rashid, the franchise shifted focus to overseas spinners and identified Abrar Ahmed as the ideal choice. They successfully acquired Abrar Ahmed The Hundred for Rs 2.34 crore.

Vettori explained, “Once we missed out on Adil Rashid, who was our priority early on, we obviously jumped into the overseas spinner market. There were four or five players we considered, and Abrar was one of them. Very pleased to get him.”

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No Political Discussions Influenced Selection

The coach confirmed that the selection of Abrar Ahmed was purely based on cricketing merit and not influenced by India-Pakistan relations. “We just planned for everyone in the auction. There wasn’t a discussion about not picking Pakistani players. It was simply about choosing the best option. After missing Adil Rashid, the priority was securing a high-quality spinner from overseas,” Vettori added.

Other Players on Radar

In addition to Abrar Ahmed, Sunrisers Leeds had their eyes on mystery spinner Usman Tariq and Rishad Hussain. “Rishad Hussain, Usman Tariq, and Abrar Ahmed were all on our radar,” Vettori confirmed. Ultimately, Abrar fit the team’s strategy and became a key overseas acquisition for Sunrisers Leeds in The Hundred.

Backlash and Public Reaction

The decision to include Abrar has sparked criticism on social media, with some calling for a boycott of related franchises. Despite this, Sunrisers Leeds remain firm, emphasizing that Abrar The Hundred selection was strictly performance-based.