New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially distanced itself from the escalating controversy surrounding Sunrisers Leeds and their acquisition of Pakistani leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed.

Speaking to ANI on Friday, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla clarified that the Board has no jurisdiction over the personnel decisions of franchises in overseas tournaments. His statement comes after a massive social media firestorm erupted in India following the player auction for the 2026 season of The Hundred.

"It is not in our domain (IPL). They have done it for some foreign league. They [the franchise] will have to take a call; we cannot do anything," Shukla stated.

Sunrisers Leeds, owned by the Sun TV Network, which also operates the IPL’s Sunrisers Hyderabad, secured Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 (approx. ₹2.1 crore). This makes Abrar the first active Pakistan international to be signed by an Indian-owned franchise in the history of The Hundred.

While the move was a tactical win for head coach Daniel Vettori, it triggered immediate outrage among Indian fans. Critics have pointed to controversial social media posts allegedly made by the 27-year-old spinner during the 'Operation Sindoor' military standoff in May 2025. Fans claim the posts mocked the Indian Armed Forces, leading to trending hashtags calling for a boycott of the Sunrisers brand.

The 2026 auction was under intense scrutiny following reports of a potential "shadow ban" on Pakistani players. Since 2008, Pakistani cricketers have been absent from the IPL due to geopolitical tensions. As Indian conglomerates expanded their ownership into leagues like South Africa's SA20 and the UAE's ILT20, the exclusion of Pakistani talent became a global pattern.

Adding to the drama, the official X account of Sunrisers Leeds was suspended shortly after the announcement of Abrar’s signing, though the platform has yet to provide a specific reason for the move.

Pakistan players in The Hundred 2026:

Abrar Ahmed: Sold to Sunrisers Leeds (£190,000)

Usman Tariq: Sold to Birmingham Phoenix (£140,000).