Kavya Maran Faces Online Backlash After Sunrisers Leeds Sign Pakistan Spinner Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred Auction

Social media has erupted with reactions after Sunrisers Leeds — a franchise owned by India’s Sun Group — signed Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed during the 2026 Hundred auction in England. The move has sparked heated debate online, with many users criticising the decision and directing their anger at Kavya Maran, who represents the franchise’s ownership.

Sunrisers Leeds, the Leeds-based team competing in England’s 100-ball tournament The Hundred, secured the services of mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 (approximately ₹2.34 crore). The deal was confirmed during Thursday’s auction after a bidding contest with Trent Rockets.

Kavya Maran, CEO of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and co-owner of the newly formed Sunrisers Leeds franchise, attended the auction and placed the winning bid. The team itself is owned by the Chennai-based media conglomerate Sun Group.

The signing marks a notable moment in franchise cricket because Abrar Ahmed became the first Pakistani cricketer to be picked by a team owned by an Indian entity in The Hundred. While Pakistani players have been barred from participating in the Indian Premier League since 2009 due to strained diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan, such restrictions do not apply in overseas leagues.

Soon after the announcement was made on social media, the official X (formerly Twitter) account of Sunrisers Leeds faced a wave of criticism and hostile comments. Within hours, the account was suspended by the platform. According to X, the suspension occurred due to violations of its rules, though the specific reason was not publicly clarified.

🚨SUNRISERS LEADS ACCOUNT SUSPENDED.🚨

– The official X account of Sunrisers Leeds was suspended after facing heavy outrage from Indian fans for buying Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred auction.🤯 pic.twitter.com/7b7xw1wVnA

— Sam (@Cricsam01) March 13, 2026

The backlash mainly came from sections of Indian cricket fans who objected to an Indian-owned franchise signing a Pakistani player. Some users even called for a boycott of Sunrisers Hyderabad during the upcoming IPL 2026 season.

One user wrote on X, “I can’t believe an Indian franchise owner bought a Pakistan player. This is unacceptable.” Another comment urged fans to boycott the team in the IPL, claiming the decision showed a lack of respect for national sentiment.

A different user criticised the move by saying Indian franchises had avoided signing Pakistani players for years due to political tensions, but financial interests in foreign leagues appeared to have changed that stance.

Kavya Maran also became the subject of personal attacks online. One post referenced her political background and urged fans to boycott Sunrisers Hyderabad, accusing the franchise of prioritising profit over national pride.

Meanwhile, discussions surrounding the signing also revived the long-standing issue of Pakistani cricketers’ absence from the IPL. Since the 2008 season, no Pakistani player has appeared in the league after diplomatic tensions between the neighbouring countries escalated.

Sun Group expanded its presence in global franchise cricket last year by acquiring the Leeds-based Hundred team. The company purchased a 49 percent stake from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the remaining 51 percent from Yorkshire County Cricket Club, reportedly spending around £100 million to take full control of the franchise previously known as Northern Superchargers.

Apart from Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and Sunrisers Leeds in The Hundred, the group also owns Sunrisers Eastern Cape in South Africa’s SA20 league. However, the SA20 side currently does not feature any Pakistani players in its squad. Abrar Ahmed was not the only Pakistani cricketer to be sold during the auction. Another mystery spinner, Usman Tariq, was picked up by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000 (around ₹1.72 crore).

Despite the uproar on social media, reports indicate that the England and Wales Cricket Board has made its stance clear to the franchise owners. According to those reports, the ECB has informed Sunrisers Leeds that releasing Abrar Ahmed due to political or commercial pressure could lead to serious consequences. The governing body has reportedly warned that terminating the contract under such circumstances may result in the immediate cancellation of the franchise agreement along with significant financial penalties.

Meanwhile, screenshots showing the suspended Sunrisers Leeds X account have been widely circulated online. Some users claimed that mass reporting by angry fans might have contributed to the suspension, while others called for similar action against the Sunrisers Hyderabad account. As the debate continues online, the franchise itself has not yet issued an official statement addressing the controversy. The Hundred tournament is scheduled to take place from July 21 to August 16 this year.