BCCI stayed silent for days about the Abrar Ahmed controversy! Sunrisers Leeds signed the Pakistani spinner for The Hundred recently. Indian fans absolutely exploded with anger on social media everywhere.
Now, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla finally broke the board’s silence! He spoke to ANI about this massive controversy clearly. His comments will disappoint fans demanding BCCI action though.
Sunrisers Leeds Faces Massive Backlash
Sunrisers Leeds is connected to IPL’s Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise directly! They signed Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 at The Hundred auction. That decision triggered enormous backlash from Indian supporters immediately.
The franchise’s X account got suspended due to overwhelming hate! Owner Kavya Maran faces severe criticism on all social media platforms. Indian fans feel betrayed by an IPL-linked team signing Pakistani players.
Abrar Ahmed’s controversial “tea celebrations” mocking an Indian pilot angered fans previously! His gesture after taking Indian wickets hasn’t been forgotten. Now, an Indian-owned franchise hired him creating this firestorm!
BCCI’s Official Statement on Controversy
Rajeev Shukla clarified BCCI’s position very clearly to ANI reporters! The Hundred is an overseas league that is completely separate.
“This is not at all concerned with the IPL. It’s an overseas league. This is not in our domain. We cannot do anything. They have to take a call,” Shukla said.
BCCI cannot control what franchises do in foreign leagues. They operate independently outside India’s cricket jurisdiction completely. The decision belongs entirely to the Sunrisers Leeds management alone. BCCI won’t interfere with overseas franchise operations at all.
That statement essentially washes BCCI’s hands of this entire controversy! Fans wanting board intervention will be disappointed with this response. Shukla made BCCI’s hands-off approach crystal clear publicly.
What This Means for Fans
Indian fans demanded that the BCCI force Sunrisers Leeds to cancel the signing! But BCCI has zero jurisdiction over The Hundred league. Sunrisers Leeds operates independently in England under ECB rules.
The Hundred is not BCCI’s tournament to control whatsoever! IPL 2026 approaches soon with defending champions RCB starting March 28. Sunrisers Hyderabad remains separate from Sunrisers Leeds technically speaking.
But public perception links both franchises together permanently in fans’ minds! Kavya Maran owns both teams creating that association naturally. Can this controversy be separated from IPL completely?
