Kaviya Maran has chosen not to address the controversy surrounding the signing of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed by Sunrisers Leeds during The Hundred auction. Instead, the franchise owner said she was pleased with the squads assembled for the upcoming season.
Kaviya Maran, who is also the CEO of IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad and SA20 team Sunrisers Eastern Cape, was present at the auction when Sunrisers Leeds entered a lengthy bidding battle with Trent Rockets to secure Abrar Ahmed. The franchise eventually signed the spinner for £190,000 (approximately INR 2.45 crore).
The signing attracted attention because Indian-owned cricket franchises have generally not signed Pakistani players in recent years, largely due to the strained relationship between India and Pakistan. The issue has remained especially sensitive following the Pahalgam ter*or att@ck and the move led to criticism in India, with reports stating that Kaviya Maran also received de*th threats online.
When asked about the matter in an interview, Kaviya Maran did not discuss the controversy. According to the English publication, she avoided commenting because of the political sensitivity surrounding the issue. Instead, she said the franchise was satisfied with the balance of both its men’s and women’s squads.
Sunrisers Hyderabad became the only IPL franchise to purchase a Hundred team outright after acquiring Yorkshire’s 51 percent stake along with the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) 49 percent share in Sunrisers Leeds. Other IPL owners, including Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants, also acquired majority stakes in The Hundred franchises.
The growing involvement of Indian companies in The Hundred had prompted speculation that the unofficial absence of Pakistani players seen in the IPL could also extend to England’s franchise tournament. Pakistani cricketers have not featured in the IPL auction for many years.
However, the ECB made its position clear after concerns and possible protests were raised by some Pakistani-English cricketers. All eight Hundred franchises later released a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to running an inclusive and non-discriminatory competition.
Apart from Abrar Ahmed, Pakistan’s Usman Tariq was the only other men’s player selected in the auction, joining Birmingham Phoenix, which is jointly owned by Warwickshire County Cricket Club (51 percent) and US investment firm Knighthead Capital Management (49 percent).
No Pakistani woman was picked during The Hundred women’s auction, although Birmingham Phoenix later signed Pakistan all-rounder Fatima Sana.
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