Kavya Maran, the owner of Sunrisers Hyderabad, has come under criticism on social media after Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed was signed by SunRisers Leeds during the The Hundred Men’s 2026 player auction held on Thursday, March 12.
The leg-spinner was bought for £190,000 (approximately ₹2.34 crore) after a bidding contest, reportedly involving Trent Rockets. The move has triggered backlash online because the SunRisers brand also owns franchises in multiple leagues, including the Indian Premier League.
Since Sunrisers Hyderabad holds a stake in SunRisers Leeds, some fans questioned the decision to sign a Pakistan cricketer amid ongoing discussions about Pakistani players’ participation in leagues with Indian ownership.
Who Is Kavya Maran?
Born on November 3, 1991, Kavya Maran is currently 34 years old and serves as the Executive Director of Sun TV Network. She is the daughter of Kalanithi Maran, the chairman and founder of the Sun Group.
Kavya completed her B.Com degree from Stella Maris College before pursuing an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business in New York.
After finishing her studies, she returned to Chennai and joined the Sun Group, gradually taking charge of the group’s sports investments. She currently oversees the franchise’s expanding presence in global T20 leagues, including:
- Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Sunrisers Eastern Cape
- SunRisers Leeds
Sun TV Network entered the IPL in 2012 after the league terminated the contract of Deccan Chargers for breaching franchise agreements. The team was subsequently rebranded as Sunrisers Hyderabad.
IPL Owners Expand into The Hundred
The 2026 edition of The Hundred saw multiple IPL ownership groups invest in franchises. Several teams now have financial backing from IPL stakeholders, including:
- Sunrisers Hyderabad acquiring 100% stake in Northern Superchargers (rebranded as SunRisers Leeds)
- Lucknow Super Giants buying 70% of Manchester Originals
- Delhi Capitals purchasing 40% of Southern Brave
- Mumbai Indians acquiring 49% of Oval Invincibles
Because of these investments, there was widespread speculation about whether franchises linked to IPL owners would sign players from Pakistan during the auction. Some reports even suggested that Pakistani players might face a “shadow ban” in leagues with Indian ownership.
Only Two Pakistani Players Sold
Despite 14 Pakistani players being shortlisted, only two were picked in the auction.
- Usman Tariq was signed by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000.
- Abrar Ahmed joined SunRisers Leeds for £190,000.
The signing of Usman Tariq did not generate much controversy because Birmingham Phoenix does not have IPL ownership links. However, Abrar Ahmed’s move attracted criticism due to SunRisers’ association with the IPL franchise.
Adding to the debate, Abrar had earlier faced backlash for a controversial social media post mocking the Indian Army after Operation Sindoor, which resurfaced following his signing.
