By Harsh
March 13, 2026
The Hundred auction sparked controversy as an Indian team owner picked a Pakistani player, triggering massive reactions and debate among fans across social media.
Kavya Maran shocked fans by signing Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 at The Hundred auction, turning the deal into one of the event’s biggest talking points.
Kavya Maran faces online backlash after picking Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred auction, with some fans criticising the move amid India-Pakistan cricket tensions. Hashtags like Boycott SRH are trending.
Abrar Ahmed made history by becoming the first Pakistani player to join an Indian-owned team in The Hundred, adding more controversy to the already debated auction signing.
Soon after Abrar Ahmed’s signing, Sunrisers Leeds’ social media account was suddenly suspended, adding more mystery and speculation around the controversial The Hundred auction move.
Haris Rauf went unsold at £100,000, Shaheen Afridi withdrew before the auction, while Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq secured a £140,000 deal with Birmingham Phoenix.
The franchise called the move purely cricketing, but Abrar Ahmed’s signing continues to trigger debate among fans across countries amid ongoing cricketing tensions.