Pakistani Spinner Abrar Ahmed Signs for £190,000 After Sunrisers Miss Out on Adil Rashid
Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori has revealed that Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed was signed primarily for his wicket-taking ability at any stage of the game.
The 27-year-old spinner was bought for £190,000 (around $255,000) after Sunrisers outbid Trent Rockets in a tense battle during The Hundred auction held in London on Thursday.
Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori has hailed Abrar Ahmed as a “proven wicket-taker” whose ability to deliver in any phase of the game was central to the franchise’s decision to sign him for £190,000.
Speaking to Geo News after Thursday’s auction in London, Vettori explained that his team required a spinner capable of striking in both the powerplay and middle overs.
“He gives us a number of opportunities to bowl throughout any phase of the game, and he’s a wicket-taker,” Vettori said. “The fact that he has so many mystery balls and that many English batsmen would not have faced him before puts us in good stead.”
Owned by India-based media conglomerate Sun TV Network, Sunrisers Leeds — the sister franchise of Sunrisers Hyderabad and Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20 — purchased the Yorkshire-based Hundred franchise, formerly Northern Superchargers, last year. The group initially acquired a 49% stake from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) before buying the remaining 51% from Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
Abrar Ahmed became the Sunrisers’ priority after their first-choice spinner, England’s Adil Rashid, was signed by Southern Brave earlier in the auction.
“Adil Rashid was a priority for us, and when we missed out on him, we stepped into the overseas market for spinners. There were a number of very good bowlers in that set, and we decided that Abrar was the best option,” Vettori said. “We had four or five spin options in mind, and Abrar was one of them, so we’re very pleased to get him.”
The auction followed reports suggesting that IPL-owned teams in The Hundred might avoid signing Pakistani players. In response, the ECB and all eight franchises released a joint statement affirming that selections would remain inclusive, based solely on performance and availability.
Vettori emphasized that nationality was never a factor in their decision. “It wasn’t a discussion — it was simply about who the best option was,” he said. “The priority was to get a spin bowler, and the quality wasn’t available locally, so we looked overseas. Abrar’s track record in both franchise and international cricket really appealed to us.”
Abrar, 27, has taken 109 wickets in 84 T20 matches to date. Known for his variations, subtle pace changes, and ability to exploit conditions, he is now one of Pakistan’s frontline spin options. Feedback from Australian players who faced him in a T20I series in Pakistan ahead of the T20 World Cup also contributed to his selection.
“He recently played against Australia, and feedback from the players was that he’s incredibly tricky to face,” Vettori said. “He has a lot of variations and the ability to strike in the powerplay and middle overs, which is key at Headingley.”
Vettori also highlighted the potential for Abrar’s signing to engage the local British-Pakistani community in Leeds and neighbouring Bradford, often called “mini-Pakistan.”
“We know there’s a big Pakistani community in the area, and we’re excited about that in the upcoming season,” he said.
Sunrisers Leeds will kick off their campaign against MI London on July 21 at The Oval.
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