The Hundred Auction 2026 Controversy: Why is Kavya Maran being trolled over Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed & why was Sunrisers Leeds’ X account suspended?
The franchise, which is owned by the same group behind Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL), signed the 27-year-old spinner for £190,000 at the men’s auction. Immediately after the announcement on social media, this move sparked harsh reactions, with many posts targeting the series’ co-owner, Kavya Maran.
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Despite the backlash, The Hundred’s organizers had previously announced that all auction selections would be made entirely on merit.
Read more: Pakistani spinner Abrar signs with Indian-owned Sunrisers Leeds in Hundred auction
Why Did Abrar Ahmed’s Signing for Sunrisers Leeds Cause Controversy?
The controversy began after Sunrisers Leeds confirmed the signing of Abrar Ahmed to social media platform X. The announcement quickly attracted negative comments from some fans who questioned why an IPL franchise would choose a Pakistani player.
Criticism has also focused on Kavya Maran, who has been linked to the ownership group behind Sunrisers Hyderabad and Sunrisers Leeds.
This reaction reflects long-standing political tensions between India and Pakistan, which often affect cricket relations between the two countries. Shortly after the franchise signed Abrar Ahmed, Sunrisers Leeds’ official X (formerly Twitter) account was suspended. The platform did not give any specific reason for the action. When users try to access the account, a message saying “Account suspended” appears. Typically, X suspends accounts found to violate platform rules.
Why Are Pakistani Players Not Playing In IPL?
Pakistani cricketers have not been able to qualify for the Indian Premier League since 2009. Following political tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistani players were largely excluded from the IPL.
Since then, the two countries have only faced each other in global tournaments such as ICC events.
Due to this history, there was speculation that franchises linked to IPL teams before The Hundred Auction 2026 may avoid signing Pakistani players.
What Did Hundreds of Officials Say About Casting?
Before the auction took place, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and eight clubs issued a joint statement addressing the controversy.
They confirmed that player selections will be based solely on cricket factors.
According to the statement, teams will make their decisions based on performance, availability and the needs of each team, rather than nationality or political considerations.
Which Other Pakistani Actors Have Been Selected in Hundred Auction 2026?
Abrar Ahmed was not the only Pakistani cricketer to participate in the auction.
Another spinner, Usman Tariq, signed a contract with Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000.
However, the fate of some other Pakistani players during the auction process was mixed.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf failed to sell despite entering the auction with a reserve price of £100,000. Meanwhile, star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrew from the auction before the auction started.
Pakistan’s representation in the women’s auction was also limited as Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal failed to receive bids.
What Other Important Signings Happened at Hundred Auctions 2026?
The auction also featured a number of high-profile signings from England and other cricketing nations.
London Spirit made headlines by signing England all-rounder James Cole for £390,000.
Meanwhile, Welsh Fire spent a total of £540,000 to land Jordan Cox and former England captain Joe Root.
These deals highlighted the competitive nature of the auction as teams strengthened their rosters for next season.
When Will the Hundred 2026 Season Start?
The 2026 edition of The Hundred will feature both men’s and women’s tournaments.
The competition is scheduled to begin on July 21, 2026 and will last approximately four weeks.
With new transfers and strong squads being formed in different teams, the upcoming season is expected to create significant excitement among cricket fans around the world.
Inputs from TOI
