"Shame on Kavya Maran" Fans lash out at Sunrisers Leeds over Abrar Ahmed’s signing in The Hundred 2026 auction
Abrar Ahmed was the only Pakistan player picked by an Indian franchise in The Hundred 2026 auction
At The Hundred 2026 players’ auction on Thursday, Sunrisers Leeds, supported by the Sunrisers group, which owns the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise of the Indian Premier League (IPL), welcomed Abrar Ahmed into the fold for the upcoming edition of The Hundred.
Also Read: Indian-owned Sunrisers Leeds acquire THIS Pakistan player in The Hundred 2026 auction; Know here
Abrar Ahmed was bought by Sunrisers Leeds for £190,000. Usman Tariq, another mystery spinner, was the first Pakistani player acquired in The Hundred 2026 auction. Birmingham Phoenix, a non-IPL team, signed him for £140,000 (INR 1.72 crore). Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, and Haris Rauf went unsold, while Shaheen Afridi had pulled out of the auction.
However, the Sunrisers’ decision to bid for and include Pakistani spinner Abrar has come under severe scrutiny on social media. The decision has not gone down well with Indian fans.
Indian fans slam Sunrisers Leeds and Kavya Maran for buying Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred 2026 auction
Earlier, it was reported that the England teams, owned by Indian owners, might attempt not to bid for Pakistani cricket players, effectively limiting their involvement in the competition.
But, later it was confirmed that such a thing would happen, as players will be picked based on their performances and team combinations.
A significant portion of the anger of Indian fans aimed at Abrar stems from his previous social media posts in which he seemed to be criticising India, particularly Indian Air Force officer Abhinandan Varthaman, who was taken prisoner by Pakistani forces during an India-Pakistan clash in 2019.
He shared a video of Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub sipping tea before the T20 World Cup 2026, while Abrar made remarks that many perceived as demeaning India. His earlier post about sipping tea was seen as anti-Indian. He has also mocked the Indian team and fans repeatedly by posting instigating photos with a teacup on his social media.
Now, the Sunrisers have become the target of Indian fans on social media for buying Abrar, as they shared their anger on X.
Here are some reactions:
For how much money did Sunrisers Leeds buy Abrar Ahmed in the Hundred 2026 auction?
Sunrisers bought Abrar in the Hundred 2026 auction for £190,000.
When will the Hundred Men’s 2026 begin?
The Hundred 2026 Men’s competition will begin on July 21, 2026.
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