IPL is yet to begin, but IPL owners are already in the spotlight. Kavya Maran, the owner of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team in the IPL, has drawn heavy criticism from the fans. This time, not for the IPL team but for the team of The Hundred.
The businesswoman also owns the team Sunrisers Leeds in The Hundred, for which she has recently signed the Pakistani player Abrar Ahmed for over Rs. 2.34 crore. Amid tension between the two nations, the Indian fans are not liking this move. Let’s discuss all about this in today’s Spin24Star coverage.
What Happened at The Hundred Auction
Currently, the auctions of the hundred leagues for the 2026 season are going on. The Sun Group was also there in the auction, which recently bought the 100% stake in Northern Superchargers and renamed it Sunrisers Leeds.
Auction Table Bids:
Abrar Ahmed was listed with a base price of 75K euros. Now, when the name of the Pakistani player Abrar Ahmed came up, the team put in a bid aggressively and didn’t back down until they secured him.
Sunrisers Leeds put a bid on this spinner. Trent Rockets also came into a bidding war that went till 190K euros. Here, the Rockets went back, and Maran’s team bought him for 190K euro, which is Rs. 2.34 crore in INR.
Criticism of Fans for Kavya Maran
The tension between India and Pakistan is not hidden from anyone. After the Mumbai incident, Pakistani players are not allowed to play in the IPL. But now this incident of buying a Pakistani by an Indian owner is what fans are not able to digest. They are completely enraged on social media. Aloso read about IPL 2026 Schedule Announced: RCB vs SRH to Kick Off Season at Chinnaswamy
Champions Trophy Incident:
Earlier in the Champions Trophy, the same player gave a send-off to Indian player Shubman Gill, after which Indian fans didn’t like him.
Fans are now trolling Kavya Maran for spending crores on a player who has shown aggression towards the Indian team. Many are saying that an Indian owner should not promote Pakistani players when our country does not have cricket relations with them.
About Abrar Ahmed
Abrar Ahmed is a Pakistani cricketer who plays international cricket for the Pakistan team. He is a leg-spinner who can also bat a bit down the order. He made his debut recently and became famous for his bowling variations.
- He is from Pakistan and plays as a right-arm leg spinner
- He made his Test debut in 2022 against England and took 11 wickets in that match
- The player became popular for his mystery spin and wrong ones
- In the Champions Trophy 2025, he gave an aggressive send-off to Shubman Gill, which went viral
- He has played very few international matches, but is considered a future star
The spinner is known for his unique action and ability to turn the ball both ways. Pakistan fans rate him very high, but Indian fans still remember his send-off to Gill, which is why they don’t like him much.
What is The Hundred?
The Hundred is a professional cricket league played in England and Wales. It was started by the England Cricket Board to attract new audiences to the sport.
- Each team plays 100 balls per innings, which makes it fast and exciting
- It features 8 city-based franchises from across England
- Many international players take part in this league every year
- The matches are short and finish in around two and a half hours
- The Sun Group recently bought Northern Superchargers and renamed it Sunrisers Leeds
Final Words
Kavya Maran buying Abrar Ahmed for Sunrisers Leeds has surely upset many Indian cricket fans. People are not happy seeing an Indian owner spending crores on a Pakistan player, especially when relations between the two countries are not good. The fact that Abrar gave a send-off to Shubman Gill in the Champions Trophy made things even worse for fans.
But at the end of the day, The Hundred is a different league, and owners have the right to buy players they want for their team. Business is business, and cricket is cricket. But fans will be fans, and they will keep expressing their feelings on social media. For more such cricket updates and news, keep reading Spin24Star.
FAQs
- 1) Who is Kavya Maran?
Ans: Kavya Maran is the CEO of the Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL team and the daughter of Sun TV Network owner Kalanithi Maran. She also owns Sunrisers Leeds in The Hundred.
- 2) Why is Kavya Maran getting hate?
Ans: She is getting hate because she bought Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed for her team, Sunrisers Leeds, for Rs. 2.34 crore amid India-Pakistan tensions.
- 3) Why did Kavya Maran buy a Pakistan player?
Ans: She bought Abrar Ahmed for The Hundred League because teams need good spinners, and he was available in the auction. Sunrisers Leeds wanted him for their squad.
- 4) Did Kavya Maran buy a Pakistan player for Sunrisers Hyderabad?
Ans: No, she did not buy him for Sunrisers Hyderabad. She bought him for the Sunrisers Leeds, which is her team in The Hundred league in England.
- 5) Will Abrar Ahmed play against Indian players in The Hundred?
Ans: Yes, if there are Indian players in other teams of The Hundred, they might face each other during the tournament.
