After all, which Pakistani player got a place in Sunrisers, this decision of Kavya Maran created a storm on social media.

Lucknow: In the latest player auction of England’s high-profile T20 league The Hundred, a decision has been taken which has set the cricket world and social media on fire. Sunrisers Leeds, the team led by Sun Group owner Kavya Maran, included Pakistan’s young spin bowler Abrar Ahmed in their team for 1 lakh 90 thousand pounds (about Rs 2.34 crore).

This deal is also in the headlines because Abrar has become the first Pakistani cricketer to join an Indian-owned franchise. Since 2009, due to political tension between India and Pakistan, Pakistani players did not get a place in the IPL, but now this unwritten rule seems to be broken in The Hundred.

What happened in the auction?

There was a fierce bidding war between Sunrisers Leeds and Trent Rockets for Abrar Ahmed.
Ultimately, Sunrisers Leeds captured this 24-year-old leg-spinner by making the highest bid.
– Even before this, Usman Tariq was bought by Birmingham Phoenix for 1.40 lakh pounds (about Rs 1.72 crore).

Why the uproar on social media?

Many fans praised this move and said that cricket should be kept separate from politics. At the same time, a large section is angry about this and is raising questions whether this will happen in IPL also? From trolls to memes – #AbrarAhmed and #SunrisersLeeds are trending on Twitter (X).

Kavya Maran and Sun Group’s big empire

Sun Group is not limited to just The Hundred. This group has:
– IPL: Sunrisers Hyderabad
– SA20: Sunrisers Eastern Cape
– The Hundred: Sunrisers Leeds (formerly Northern Superchargers)

Many believe that this decision is part of Sun Group’s strategy to expand into global cricket.

What will happen now?

The new season of The Hundred will run from 21 July to 16 August 2026. Everyone’s eyes are on the performance of Abrar Ahmed. Will his move open doors for Pakistani players in the future on a big platform like IPL? Or will this just be an exception?