A major controversy has erupted in the cricket world after Kavya Maran-owned franchise Sunrisers Leeds signed Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed during the men’s auction of The Hundred. The franchise, owned by Chennai-based Sun Group – which also runs the IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) – found itself at the centre of a social media storm shortly after the deal was confirmed.
Fans quickly took to social media platforms, criticizing the move and accusing the franchise of ignoring national sentiment. The controversy intensified after reports suggested that Kavya Maran herself raised the paddle during the bidding war that secured Abrar Ahmed’s services.
The Hundred Auction: Abrar Ahmed’s signing sparks debate
Abrar became the first Pakistani international cricketer to be signed by an Indian-owned franchise in The Hundred, marking a significant moment in franchise cricket. Sunrisers Leeds secured the mystery spinner for £190,000 (around ₹2.34 crore) after a competitive bidding battle with Trent Rockets.
The 27-year-old leg-spinner, often nicknamed “Harry Potter” because of his glasses, entered the auction with a base price of £75,000. However, interest from multiple teams quickly pushed his price up, eventually making him the most expensive Asian player in the 2026 Hundred Auction.
The signing is notable because Pakistani players have not been part of the Indian Premier League since 2009 due to strained relations between India and Pakistan. Over the years, many IPL franchise owners who invested in other T20 leagues around the world have also generally avoided signing Pakistani cricketers, leading to speculation about an unofficial “shadow ban.”
Sunrisers Leeds, previously known as Northern Superchargers, was fully acquired by Sun TV last year in a deal reportedly worth around £100 million. The company bought a 49% stake from the England and Wales Cricket Board and the remaining 51% from Yorkshire County Cricket Club, giving it full control of the franchise.
Interestingly, the Sun Group’s other teams – Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20 – have never previously signed an active Pakistani player.
Fans brutally roast Kavya Maran
The announcement of Abrar’s signing triggered immediate backlash online. Soon after Sunrisers Leeds posted the news on social media, users flooded the comment sections with criticism directed at the franchise owner Kavya Maran.
Shame on Kavya Maran for buying this Porki in her team
#TheHundred #Shame #SRH #IPL2026 #KavyaMaran pic.twitter.com/UxkjcGYPrm
— Adamesh Dhoni (@AdamDhoni1) March 13, 2026
Shame on Kavya Maran
For Bring Pakistani ABRAR AHMED in team , I hope David Warner & Bhuvneshwar will not be a part of SUNRISES anyone more
काव्या मारन ,#PunjabKings #OutKaro JK Super Cement #IPL_2026 pic.twitter.com/gWIFCalxzB— ROLEX (@TPD81498900) March 12, 2026
Kavya Maran destroyed SRH pic.twitter.com/gGmsJTPWlF
— theboysthing (@theboysthing07) March 12, 2026
Kya majburi thi Kavya Maran.. batao sabko
Shame on you #KavyaMaran #Shame #AbrarAhmed #Sunrisers pic.twitter.com/mgGp7Sff3g
— R S (@rs_rajender) March 12, 2026
Many fans also pointed to Abrar’s past on-field gestures, particularly a controversial tea cup gesture during the Asia Cup that some Indian supporters interpreted as mocking Indian players.
One social media user wrote: “Leeds acquired Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed for £190k. Abrar was literally used to mock India with the having tea picture and used to mock Indian players with unwanted celebrations in Asia Cup. Shame on you SRH.”
Another comment read: “Sunriser Leeds picked Abrar Ahmed for £1,90,000. He is the same Abrar Ahmed, who never gets tired of mocking Indians with that Tea Cup gesture. I don’t know what to say but one thing is clear all agenda & propaganda of British media against Indian owners was baseless!”
Some fans even went as far as calling for a boycott of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the upcoming IPL season.
https://x.com/hinduismOg/status/2032117630132502889
One user wrote: “Playing against is totally different from paying the players who mocked India during Operation Sindoor.”
Others described the decision as an “absolute disgrace,” questioning whether the franchise had prioritized performance over the emotions of Indian cricket fans.
Adding another twist to the situation, the official X (formerly Twitter) account of Sunrisers Leeds was suspended just hours after Abrar’s signing was announced. Visitors trying to access the page now see a simple message stating “Account suspended.”
While the platform has not clarified the exact reason behind the suspension, the timing has fuelled speculation that the intense online backlash may have played a role.
Also READ: IPL 2026 – BCCI announces schedule for the first phase; RCB to take on SRH in the opening contest
Other Pakistan players in the The Hundred Auction
Abrar was not the only Pakistani player to find a buyer during the auction. Mystery spinner Usman Tariq was picked up by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000 (around ₹1.72 crore). However, that franchise does not have any IPL ownership connections.
Meanwhile, several prominent Pakistan players – including Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub – went unsold in the auction. Star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi had withdrawn from the auction before it began.
Also READ: Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan Tamim shine as Bangladesh crush Pakistan in the first ODI
