Sunrisers Leeds justify Pak spinner Abrar Ahmed signing: Very pleased to get him

Sunrisers Leeds coach Daniel Vettori defended the signing of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed after the Hundred auction. The move triggered online backlash from Indian fans, with some even calling for a boycott of Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori has defended the franchise’s decision to sign Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed, saying the team was “very pleased” to secure him after missing out on their primary spin target at the auction. Vettori, who is also the head coach of Indian Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad, explained that the move became necessary after their initial plan to sign a different spinner fell through at the auction.

Sunrisers Leeds had initially set their sights on England spinner Adil Rashid. However, once Rashid was snapped up by Southern Brave, the franchise had to quickly shift its strategy and look for an overseas spinner, with Abrar emerging as one of the shortlisted options.

“Once we missed out on Adil Rashid [to Southern Brave], who was a priority early on, then we obviously jumped into the overseas spinner. There were four or five guys that we were looking at and Abrar was one of them," Vettori said after the auction.

“Very pleased to get him," Vettori added.

The franchise, owned by the Sun Group headed by Kalanithi Maran, eventually secured Abrar for Rs 2.34 crore. Kavya Maran was present alongside Vettori at the auction table in London as Sunrisers Leeds outbid Trent Rockets to sign the Pakistani spinner.

The team will be led by England T20I captain Harry Brook in the upcoming season.