The Board of Control for Cricket in India vice-president Rajeev Shukla clarified that the board is “least concerned” about the decision by Sunrisers Hyderabad’s sister franchise, Sunrisers Leeds, to sign Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred player auction. Abrar, a 27-year-old leg-spinner, has already built a solid international record with appearances across formats for Pakistan.

He has represented the national team in Tests, ODIs and T20Is and will now earn around £190,000 (approximately ₹2.34 crore) after being picked by Sunrisers Leeds for the upcoming edition of the tournament organised by the England and Wales Cricket Board. The signing has sparked a wave of debate among Indian cricket fans on social media.

Some critics pointed to past remarks allegedly made by Abrar during periods of tense relations between India and Pakistan, arguing that an Indian-owned franchise should avoid signing a Pakistani international. However, Shukla made it clear that the BCCI has no role in such decisions outside the Indian Premier League ecosystem.

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“Our domain is limited to the IPL. We have nothing to do with what they do in a league outside that. How can we interfere with them signing a player in a foreign league? That’s up to them,” Rajeev Shukla told ANI.

He further emphasised that the BCCI’s authority extends only to the Indian Premier League and that decisions taken by franchises in overseas tournaments fall entirely under the jurisdiction of those competitions.

The absence of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL has been a long-standing reality due to strained political relations between the two neighbouring nations. Over time, this informal restriction has influenced several privately owned franchise leagues connected to the Indian cricket ecosystem.

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Recently, Indian business groups — including the Sun Group, which owns Sunrisers Hyderabad — acquired stakes in multiple teams in The Hundred. Many observers believed the same restrictions on Pakistani players might carry over into the English tournament as well. However, the ECB and franchise owners have reiterated their commitment to inclusivity, highlighting that selections will be based on performance, availability and the team’s requirements rather than nationality.