Indian followers have voiced their anger after Sunrisers Leeds, owned by Kavya Maran, acquired the providers of Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed through the inaugural Males’s Hundred public sale on Thursday, March 12.
The political rigidity between India and Pakistan, particularly after the Pahalgam terror assault final 12 months, has soured cricketing relations between the 2 neighbouring nations as properly. For the reason that 2025 Asia Cup, the Indian staff has prevented shaking fingers with Pakistani gamers throughout their conferences in multi-national occasions. Bilateral cricket between the nations has remained frozen for over a decade. Pakistani gamers have been banned from taking part in within the IPL because the 2009 season.
Amid the turmoil, Kavya Maran’s Sunrisers Leeds made an enormous name, signing Abrar through the public sale held in London. Abrar had a base worth of 75,000 kilos, however a bidding warfare involving Sunrisers Leeds and Trent Rockets noticed the 27-year-old incomes a mind-boggling contract of 190,000 kilos (round INR 2.3 crore).
Abrar’s signing has sparked widespread backlash from a number of Indian followers on social media. The Karachi-born turned the primary Pakistani worldwide to be signed by an Indian-owned franchise within the event, a transfer that drew huge criticism for Sunrisers Leeds.
Sunrisers Leeds is owned by Indian media conglomerate Solar TV Community, which not too long ago accomplished the acquisition of the franchise beforehand referred to as Northern Superchargers. Sunrisers Hyderabad and Sunrisers Jap Cape are two of the opposite franchises owned by the conglomerate.
A number of reviews main as much as the public sale prompt that IPL franchise-owned groups would possibly keep away from bidding for Pakistani gamers. It appeared true within the preliminary phases of the public sale, as Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan went unsold. Nevertheless, Abrar’s information took social media by storm.
Indian followers slammed Maran, whereas some opined that Sunrisers Hyderabad needs to be boycotted through the upcoming version of the IPL.
Let’s check out how followers reacted to Abrar Ahmed’s signing on social media:
Abrar at Headingley, quickly 👏 [Play With Fire | SunRisers Leeds]
09:29 PM · Mar 12, 2026
Abrar at Headingley, quickly 👏 [Play With Fire | SunRisers Leeds]
07:29 PM · Mar 12, 2026
Abrar at Headingley, quickly 👏 [Play With Fire | SunRisers Leeds]
09:25 PM · Mar 12, 2026
Abrar at Headingley, quickly 👏 [Play With Fire | SunRisers Leeds]
08:32 PM · Mar 12, 2026
Abrar at Headingley, quickly 👏 [Play With Fire | SunRisers Leeds]
07:43 PM · Mar 12, 2026
Sunrisers Leeds Purchased Pakistani Spinner Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred League Public sale 🤯 – He turned the primary Pakistani participant to be picked by a franchise owned by the Indian house owners. – Kavya Maran and her franchise might need simply misplaced a variety of supportors and respect for this.
09:04 PM · Mar 12, 2026
Abrar at Headingley, quickly 👏 [Play With Fire | SunRisers Leeds]
07:55 PM · Mar 12, 2026
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