A major backlash has been seen on social media platforms after the India-owned Sunrisers Leeds acquired Pakistani player Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred auction. However, he is not the only player who has played for India-associated teams.
India and Pakistan have not been on very good terms ever since the partition, and the regional disputes continue to affect both countries and even cricket. For nearly 17 years, there has been a shadow ban, where India-owned/associated teams worldwide would ignore Pakistani players, but SRH broke the code. Now, more names have come out.
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List of Pakistani Cricketers Playing for Indian-Owned T20 Teams
Along with India, Pakistan is also widely famous for its cricketers, as they have shown remarkable performances on various levels. Notably, this is why Indian-owned T20 teams have acquired them for tournaments despite the shadow ban. Here are all the names.
Abrar Ahmed – Sunrisers Leeds (The Hundred)
Recently, Sunrisers Leeds has signed Abrar Ahmed for a whopping Rs. 2.34 crore during The Hundred 2026 auction, which also became an issue on the internet. Reportedly, the issue of Ahmed’s signing is not limited to his nationality, but also to his allegedly mocking social media post against India, especially the “Tea is Fantastic” meme.
Indian cricket fans showcased that they would not tolerate such actions, as the Sunrisers lost nearly 100k followers on Instagram and their Twitter account got suspended. Although the team revealed that the decision to hire him was purely because of his merits, the demand for a boycott is rising.
Interestingly, this case has brought many other names into the limelight, showcasing the increasing involvement of Pakistani players in T20 leagues owned by Indian franchises.
Mohammad Amir – Trinbago Knight Riders (Caribbean Premier League)
Mohammad Amir, the 33-year-old former fast bowler from Pakistan, participated in the last CPL season, where he was acquired by the Trinbago Knight Riders, a team owned by Knight Riders Group from India. There’s also a possibility for him to appear in the next season, considering his experience and skills.
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Usman Tariq – Trinbago Knight Riders and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ILT20)
The same year, Trinbago Knight Riders bought Amir for the CPL 2025; they also acquired Usman Tariq, per the reports from Daily Times. This 30-year-old right-arm off-spinner was also signed for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ILT20), which is also India-owned.
Usman Khan – MI Emirates (ILT20)
Pakistani wicketkeeper, Usman Khan, has been acquired by the MI Emirates in the ILT20. The MI here stands for Mumbai Indians and is backed by Reliance Industries from India.
Imad Wasim – Seattle Orcas (Major League Cricket)
Syed Imad Wasim Haider, also known as Imad Wasim, is a former Pakistani all-rounder and was part of the Seattle Orcas in the USA’s Major League Cricket, back in the 2023-24 season.
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Zaman Khan – Seattle Orcas (Major League Cricket)
Young Pakistani bowler Zaman Khan has also played for an India-owned franchise, Seattle Orcas, in the USA’s Major League Cricket (MLC).
The signing of Abrar Ahmed in the Sunrisers Leeds has highlighted that the organization has begun focusing on talent regardless of origin. Though this take is subjective and not appreciated by the Indian audience due to the regional conflict between the two, many names have appeared in Indian owned T20 teams.