Kavya Maran faced massive trolling on social media after Sunrisers Leeds signed Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 (₹2.34 crore) at The Hundred 2026 auction on March 12. The signing made Abrar the first Pakistani player bought by an Indian-owned franchise in the tournament’s history.
Fans slammed the move, calling it a betrayal of national sentiment. Hashtags like #BoycottSRH trended on X (formerly Twitter), and the Sunrisers Leeds X account was suspended within hours of the announcement).
Why Did Fans Troll Kavya Maran?
The backlash had two layers.
First, Indian-owned franchises across leagues like SA20 and ILT20 have historically avoided signing Pakistani cricketers. The Sun Group, which owns both Sunrisers Hyderabad (IPL) and Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SA20), had never previously signed an active Pakistan player in any of its teams.
Second, Abrar Ahmed has been a controversial figure among Indian fans. He was allegedly involved in social media posts in mid-2025 that many Indians interpreted as mocking the Indian Armed Forces during cross-border tensions. Fans also recalled his association with the infamous “tea cup” gesture linked to the Abhinandan Varthaman incident.
How Sunrisers Leeds Defended the Decision
Head coach Daniel Vettori was straightforward about it. He told ESPN Cricinfo that after missing out on Adil Rashid, the team prioritized an overseas spinner. Vettori added that there was no internal discussion about avoiding Pakistani players. The decision, according to him, was purely cricket-driven.
On the numbers front, Abrar Ahmed brings solid T20I credentials: 52 wickets in 38 T20Is at an economy of 6.67
What Happens Next?
The BCCI and IPL officials have not commented on the signing so far. With IPL 2026 around the corner, the spotlight will likely follow Kavya Maran and Sunrisers Hyderabad into the Indian season. Whether the fan anger cools down or spills over remains the big question.
