BCCI has no say in Sunrisers Leeds buying Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed: Rajeev Shukla
India Today
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla reacts after Sunrisers Leeds sign Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred auction, saying the board has no role in overseas leagues. Sunrisers Leeds grabbed the headlines with their big-money move for the Pakistan spinner during the auction on March 12.
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla said that the cricket body doesn't have a say when it comes to Sunrisers Leeds buying Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed in the Hundred. Sunrisers Leeds caught the attention of everyone on Thursday, March 12, when they spent 190,000 pounds on Abrar. Kavya Maran, the franchise’s CEO and a central figure in its management, was present at the auction table during the event.
She was joined by head coach Daniel Vettori at Piccadilly Lights in London on Thursday, where Sunrisers Leeds successfully outbid Trent Rockets to secure the services of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed. The move marked a rare development, as it was the first instance in several years of a franchise with ties to the Indian Premier League (IPL) signing a Pakistani player.
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The decision triggered strong reactions from sections of Indian fans, with some calling for a boycott of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. Shortly afterwards, the Sunrisers Leeds account on X became inaccessible as it was suspended on the social media platform.
While talking to ANI on Friday, Mr. Shukla said that BCCI's domain was limited to the IPL and they cannot interfere with what is happening in the Hundred with Sunrisers Leeds. The BCCI VP also said that it is purely up to the franchise to decide who they want to sign or not.
“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 upto them. It’s purely upto the franchise who have bought a team outside India. If they are taking some player outside India in that league, we are least concerned because, in IPL there is no such player,” Shukla told ANI on Friday.
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