Sunrisers Leeds CEO Kavya Maran is facing intense criticism from Indian fans after the franchise signed Pakistan leg spinner Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 (approximately Rs 2.34 crore) at the inaugural Men’s Hundred auction on March 12, 2026.
The signing has sparked a fierce debate, given the franchise’s direct links to IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabad through the Sun Group ownership.
Why Are Indian Fans Questioning Kavya Maran’s Decision
The backlash stems from two key factors. First, Indian owned franchises across global T20 leagues such as SA20 and ILT20 have historically avoided signing Pakistan players.
A stance widely seen as respecting national sentiment, given the longstanding tensions between India and Pakistan.
Second, Abrar Ahmed allegedly shared controversial social media posts in mid 2025 that Indian fans claim mocked the Indian Armed Forces during a period of heightened cross-border tension.
As news of the signing broke, hashtags including #ShameOnSRH and #BoycottSunrisers began trending on X. Users called out Maran directly for aggressively bidding for Abrar during the London auction, with many arguing that the move prioritised on field gains over national sentiment.
Sunrisers Leeds is owned by the Sun Group, which also controls IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad, making the connection between the two brands impossible to ignore for fans.
Franchise Defends Move as Purely Cricket-Based
Sunrisers Leeds have maintained that the signing was driven by cricketing merit. Head coach Daniel Vettori reportedly pushed for Abrar, who has claimed 52 wickets in 38 T20Is at an economy rate of 6.67.
The franchise outbid Trent Rockets to secure his services after opening the bidding at £130,000.The deal also dismantles the reported shadow ban narrative around Indian owned Hundred franchises avoiding Pakistan players.
The ECB had warned all teams before the auction that nationality-based exclusions would violate UK anti-discrimination laws.
However, speculation persists about whether political and commercial pressure could force a reversal, drawing comparisons to the recent Mustafizur Rahman situation with the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026. Maran now faces the challenge of managing fan anger in India while backing a bold squad-building call in England.
