Anti-national? IPL owners cheated India by signing Pakistani players, ft Kavya Maran

The recent player auction for The Hundred produced some of the biggest and most controversial news of the year. Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed has been signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise and Sunrisers Leads, a team co-owned by Kavya Maran.

The 27-year-old cricketer signed with the Leeds franchise for a whopping sum of £190,000 on Thursday during the much-awaited player auction. It created a buzz among passionate cricket fans. After the controversial signing, angry fans immediately took to social media and started trolling Kavya Maran mercilessly.

Kavya Maran’s Sunrisers under scrutiny after Abrar Ahmed’s signing in The Hundred

Ahead of the auction, there were several reports suggesting that Indian-owned franchises in The Hundred would not buy players from Pakistan. Former England captain Michael Vaughan and all-rounder Moeen Ali were also among those who gave statements on this issue.

He requested the ECB to ensure a fair and equal environment for players from all participating countries. Following these statements, both the cricket board and the franchise owners issued a joint clarification statement.

Sunrisers Leeds management managed to acquire Abrar Ahmed during an intense bidding war in the auction. The upcoming tournament will be Abrar’s first tournament in the English League..

Abrar Ahmed becomes the first Pakistani player signed by an Indian-owned franchise in The Hundred

Another Pakistani bowler Usman Tariq was also signed by Birmingham Phoenix in the auction. He became the first Pakistani cricketer to sign a contract this year. However, the controversial signing of Abrar Ahmed by the Indian-owned franchise received far more media attention on social platforms.

Sunrisers Leeds is owned by Chennai-based media giant Sun Group. Ahmed became the first Pakistani player to be signed by an Indian-owned franchise in an English tournament. The team secured him after a tough bidding process against Trent Rockets.

Notably, the IPL franchises have been away from them since 2009 due to the highly strained diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries. Sun Group took full control of the former Northern Superchargers last year for approximately GBP 100 million.

Who is Abrar Ahmed?

Abrar Ahmed is a 27-year-old leg spinner who has played 10 Tests, 15 ODIs and 38 T20 matches for Pakistan. He was recently an integral part of the Pakistan team during the 2026 T20 World Cup. He bowled an impressive spell of 3/23 in the crucial Super Eight stage game against Sri Lanka.

This upcoming season will see Ahmed playing in a major T20 league in Europe for the first time. However, his participation is completely subject to official clearance from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Abrar has been a part of many global leagues like Pakistan Super League (PSL), Major League Cricket (MLC) and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). He also recently represented Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Ahmed took six wickets during the recently concluded event.

Trouble in Abrar Ahmed deal increases due to suspension of Sunrisers Leads’ X account

The official Sunrisers Leeds X account was suspended on Thursday, hours after the franchise signed the Pakistan spinner. The move did not go down well with many fans in India, who criticized the team for going against the national sentiment.

At the auction for the men’s players, CEO Kavya Maran was seen sitting at the bidding table with head coach Daniel Vettori. In the intense run-up to the auction, there was significant media scrutiny over whether the four Indian-owned teams would actually bid for any active Pakistan players.

Sunrisers Leeds’ official account on X was suspended. Although the social media platform did not provide any specific detailed reason, users attempting to access the account received a standard pop-up message stating that it violated X rules.

List of Pakistani players in Indian-owned franchises in global cricket leagues

Despite the current political tension, Pakistani cricketers are signing contracts with various Indian-owned franchises. From The Hundred in England to the Caribbean Premier League, players from Pakistan have been contracted by Indian-owned franchises.

While Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League and Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20 have never signed any active Pakistani players, several Indian corporate giants are investing heavily in international cricketers outside Indian borders.

Caribbean Premier League (CPL)

The Trinbago Knight Riders have had a Pakistani presence over the years. The team is owned by the Knight Riders Group of India. They have signed many prominent cricketers over the years, including Shadab Khan, Yasir Shah, fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain, veteran Mohammad Amir and spinner Usman Tariq.

Another Indian-owned franchise in the Caribbean tournament is the Barbados Royals. Backed by Royals Sports Group, the team recruited wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan. His inclusion gave the team valuable power-hitting in the middle order.

International League T20 (ILT20)

The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders compete in the ILT20 tournament. The team is also part of the Indian-owned Knight Riders Group network. He included experienced all-rounder Imad Wasim and spinner Sufiyan Muqeem in his squad to strengthen his bowling attack in the Middle East.

Wicketkeeper Usman Khan has played for MI Emirates. This franchise is financed by Reliance Industries from India. He played a vital role for the team and showed the opportunities available to Pakistani players in Indian-owned franchises away from home.

Major League Cricket (MLC)

The Seattle Orcas participate in Major League Baseball. The American cricket franchise is co-owned by India’s GMR Group. To build a competitive team, he secured the services of fast bowler Zaman Khan, wicketkeeper Azam Khan and experienced all-rounder Imad Wasim.

Imad Wasim brings his extensive international experience to the Seattle Orcas setup. Even after retiring from international cricket, he remains an effective all-rounder. He can also give advice to young cricketers in the tournament.

Hundred

Sunrisers Leeds, a new team backed by India’s Sun Group, signed Abrar Ahmed. The franchise purchased him for £190,000 to improve their bowling attack for the upcoming season of the English domestic tournament..

Indian franchise owners are ready to invest money on Pakistani players to win global leagues. This ongoing professional relationship gives players a credible opportunity to compete at the highest level while playing away from home.

conclusion:

Franchise cricket now operates on a global scale, where business decisions often transcend geopolitical boundaries. Owners like Kavya Maran and Sun Group focus on building strong teams rather than making political statements.

Abrar Ahmed’s recent signing highlights this pragmatic approach to team management. While some fans reacted emotionally and questioned the loyalty of the Indian owners, the reality of foreign leagues is very different from the IPL.

As Indian franchises expand into global leagues, signing players from across the border will likely remain a common business practice, allowing playing decisions to be separated from national sentiments.

Also read: Shubman Gill barred from captaincy after India’s T20 World Cup 2026 win