Sunrisers Hyderabad Faces Backlash Over Abrar Ahmed Signing in The Hundred Auction
Controversial Signing by Sunrisers Leeds
Sunrisers Hyderabad, part of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has come under intense scrutiny following the acquisition of Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed by their sister team, Sunrisers Leeds, during the 2026 'The Hundred' Auction held in London on March 12. The franchise, owned by Kavya Maran, secured Ahmed for a staggering £190,000 (approximately Rs. 2.3 crore). This signing marked Ahmed as one of the top ten most expensive players in this unique 100-ball-per-innings format, which recently transitioned from a draft system to an auction format.
Public Outcry Over the Signing
Sunrisers Leeds Faces Major Backlash
It was largely anticipated that no Indian-owned franchise would opt for a Pakistani player in the auction, yet the Maran-owned team broke this unspoken 'shadow ban.' This decision has sparked significant backlash from Indian fans, particularly those supporting SRH. The sentiment against Pakistan is well-documented, but the outrage has intensified due to Ahmed's controversial past, including derogatory comments about the Indian Armed Forces (IAF) following the Pahalgam Terrorist Attacks last year and during Operation Sindhoor.
Fans React on Social Media
Criticism Aimed at SRH for Abrar Ahmed's Signing
On 1st March 2025, Pakistani cricketer Abrar Ahmed posted a photo holding a cup of tea with caption "Fantastic Tea".He was mocking IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan, as 1st March is the day in 2019 when India compelled Pakistan to release him.Kavya Maran's Sunrisers Leeds has… pic.twitter.com/sffXRx7MTU
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) March 12, 2026
Sunrisers Leeds (Kavya Maran's franchise) just bought Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed for £190k in The Hundred 2026 auction. The same Abrar who mocked Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman during Operation Sindoor by posting a tea pic captioned 'Fantastic Tea'. Priorities? pic.twitter.com/y0Y3jhYqxS
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) March 12, 2026
Reactions to the Signing
🚨🚨 Sunriser Leeds picked Abrar Ahmed for £1,90,000.- He is the same Abrar Ahmed, who never gets tired of mocking Indians with that Tea Cup gesture.- I don't know what to say but one thing is clear all agenda & propoganda of British media against Indian owners was baseless! pic.twitter.com/t8T6FVER4j
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) March 12, 2026
🚨 Meet Abrar Ahmed 😡- Mocked Abhinandan with the tea gesture.- Celebrated aggressively to mock Indian players.- Mocked Indian soldiers during operation sindoor.- Took digs at India repeatedly.And yet Sunrisers owner Kavya Maran has brought him into Sunriser Leeds in the… pic.twitter.com/bnSdQhbUri
— Indian Cricket (@IPL2025Auction) March 12, 2026
Historical Context of Pakistani Players in Indian Leagues
Abrar Ahmed's signing has raised questions about the historical context of Pakistani players in Indian leagues. Since the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, no player from Pakistan has participated in the IPL. The sentiment against Pakistani players has been reinforced by previous incidents, including the absence of Pakistani players in the SA20 and ILT20 leagues, both of which are owned by Indian franchises.
After the auction, SRH's coach, Daniel Vettori, stated that signing Abrar was a priority for the team. Meanwhile, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla emphasized that the actions of teams in foreign leagues are beyond their control.