The Hundred 2026 auction created plenty of discussion among cricket fans after Pakistan leg spinner Abrar Ahmed was picked by Sunrisers Leeds. The franchise signed the 27 year old spinner for £190,000 during the men’s auction, but the decision quickly triggered strong reactions online.
Many fans on social media questioned the move because Sunrisers Leeds is connected to the same ownership group behind the IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad. The announcement led to a wave of comments directed at the franchise and its co owner Kavya Maran.
Despite the criticism, organisers of The Hundred have made it clear that all teams were free to choose players based on cricketing ability and team requirements.
Why Abrar Ahmed’s Signing Became Controversial
The debate started soon after Sunrisers Leeds shared the signing announcement on social media platform X. While some fans welcomed the addition of a talented spinner, others reacted negatively and questioned why a team linked to an IPL franchise selected a Pakistani cricketer.
The criticism largely focused on the long standing political tensions between India and Pakistan. These tensions have historically influenced cricket relations between the two countries.
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Because Pakistani players have not played in the Indian Premier League for many years, some fans believed that franchises connected to IPL teams might avoid selecting players from Pakistan in international leagues as well.
However, The Hundred is run independently in England, and franchises are allowed to sign players from any country.
Sunrisers Leeds Social Media 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.
Absolutely belt treatment to kavya Maran by Indians.🥶 pic.twitter.com/jZLyOydTgP
— Courageous (@CourageousRo) March 13, 2026
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Shortly after the signing announcement gained attention, the official X account of Sunrisers Leeds was suddenly suspended. When users tried to open the page, they saw a message stating that the account had been suspended.
कल 'The Hundred' ऑक्शन में पाकिस्तानी खिलाड़ी Abrar Ahmed को खरीदने के बाद खूब विवाद हुआ
जिसका परिणाम अब देखने को मिल रहा है।
आज Kavya Maran की फ्रेंचाइजी Sunrisers Leeds के ऑफिशियल अकाउंट को सस्पेंड कर दिया गया है।
अगर Kavya Maran अपनी फ्रेंचाइजी से Abrar Ahmed को रिलीज नहीं… pic.twitter.com/F1L2d4wfYp
— Jaiky Yadav (@JaikyYadav16) March 13, 2026
The platform has not officially confirmed the exact reason for the suspension. In general, accounts are suspended when they violate platform policies or rules.
The timing of the suspension added another layer to the ongoing online discussion around the signing.
Why Pakistani Players Do Not Play in the IPL
Pakistani cricketers last appeared in the Indian Premier League during the inaugural season in 2008. After political tensions increased between India and Pakistan, players from Pakistan were no longer part of the tournament.
Since then, cricket matches between the two countries have mostly been limited to international tournaments organised by the International Cricket Council.
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Because of this situation, Pakistani players rarely appear in leagues connected to Indian franchises. This history is one reason why Abrar Ahmed’s signing attracted so much attention online.
The Hundred Organisers Respond
Before the auction took place, officials from the England and Wales Cricket Board and the participating franchises had already addressed concerns about nationality issues.
They confirmed that player selection would be based only on cricketing factors such as performance, team balance, and player availability.
According to the organisers, nationality or political considerations were not part of the selection process.
This approach aims to keep the tournament focused on sporting competition rather than political debates.
Other Pakistan Players in The Hundred 2026 Auction
Abrar Ahmed was not the only Pakistani cricketer involved in the auction.
Spinner Usman Tariq was signed by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000. Unlike the Sunrisers Leeds signing, this deal did not attract much criticism because the franchise does not have ownership connections with any IPL team.
However, several other Pakistani players had mixed results during the auction.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf entered the auction with a reserve price of £100,000 but did not receive any bids. Star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrew from the auction before it began.
In the women’s category, Pakistan players Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal also went unsold.
These outcomes show that competition during the auction was intense, with teams carefully selecting players based on their squad needs.
Other Major Signings in The Hundred 2026 Auction
Apart from the debate surrounding Abrar Ahmed, the auction also included several high value signings.
London Spirit created headlines by signing English all rounder James Cole for £390,000. Even though he has not yet played international cricket, the team invested heavily in his potential.
Welsh Fire also made strong moves by signing batter Jordan Cox and former England captain Joe Root in deals worth a combined £540,000.
These signings show how competitive the auction has become as teams try to build strong squads for the upcoming season.
Who Is Kavya Maran
Kavya Maran, who has been widely discussed following the signing, is an Indian business executive and a well known figure in cricket administration.
She was born on November 3, 1991 and is currently 34 years old. Kavya serves as the Executive Director of Sun TV Network Limited. She is also the daughter of Kalanithi Maran, the founder and chairman of the Sun Group.
Kavya completed her graduation from Stella Maris College in Chennai where she earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Later, she pursued a Master of Business Administration from the Stern School of Business at New York University.
After finishing her studies, she returned to India and joined the Sun Group. Over time, she became the key figure managing the group’s sports investments.
Today she oversees several cricket teams linked to the Sun Group. These include Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, Sunrisers Eastern Cape in South Africa’s SA20 league, and Sunrisers Leeds in The Hundred.
Her involvement in cricket management has made her one of the most visible young executives in the sports industry.
Kavya Maran’s Net Worth
In 2024 she received recognition as the “Face and Force Behind Sunrisers Hyderabad” at the Devi Awards. She was also included in the list of 100 Women Achievers of India in 2023, becoming one of the youngest business leaders featured on the list.
Her reported net worth is believed to be more than ₹400 crore.
Calls for Boycott From Some Fans
Shame on Kavya Maran😡#TheHundredLeague #TheHundred pic.twitter.com/Ywm8hsdgmG
— Pathan Bhai (@PathanBhaiii) March 12, 2026
After the signing of Abrar Ahmed, some fans on social media called for a boycott of Sunrisers Hyderabad during the IPL season. These reactions were largely connected to the franchise’s stake in the Leeds team that signed the Pakistani spinner.
90% Peoples Are Trolling SRH😥
Please Make it 100%🥹pic.twitter.com/0mbMA2OR0X— 𝗣ᴀɴᴅᴜ_𝗚ᴀᴅᴜ⚡ (@PANDUGADURA1) March 12, 2026
Some criticism also referenced a past social media controversy involving Abrar Ahmed, which further fueled the debate.
There is a limit to troll Kavya Maran , Please cross that limit. pic.twitter.com/WSYU2r6RwV
— Vivek (@Hailkohli18) March 12, 2026
However, other fans and cricket analysts argued that professional sports leagues should focus on talent and competition rather than political differences.
When The Hundred 2026 Season Begins
The upcoming season of The Hundred is scheduled to start on July 21, 2026. The tournament will feature both men’s and women’s competitions and will run for about four weeks.
With new signings, strong squads, and several storylines already developing, the 2026 season is expected to attract significant attention from cricket fans around the world.
Whether the discussion around Abrar Ahmed continues or fades away, his signing has already become one of the most talked about moments from this year’s auction.
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