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Abrar Row

(L-R) Abrar Ahmed and Sunrisers owner Kavya Maran. Photo: Sunrisers X handles

‘Not in our domain’: BCCI on Sunrisers Leeds’ signing of Abrar Ahmed for The Hundred

India Blooms News Service | @indiablooms | Mar 13, 2026, at 04:17 pm

#BCCI # Rajeev Shukla # Abrar Ahmed # Sunrisers Leeds # The Hundred # Kavya Maran # Sunrisers franchise # Pakistan cricketer controversy # Indian Cricket Board # India Pakistan cricket row

Mumbai/IBNS: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla on Friday said the Indian cricket board cannot take any step regarding the Sunrisers franchise roping in Pakistani cricketer Abrar Ahmed for the upcoming edition of The Hundred.

Shukla said the decision rests with the franchise, noting that overseas leagues fall outside the jurisdiction of the BCCI.

"..It is not in our domain (IPL), they have done it for some foreign league...They will have to take a call; we cannot do anything," said Shukla speaking to ANI.

#WATCH | Delhi | On Sunrisers Leeds signing Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed for the The Hundred 2026 season, Congress MP Rajiv Shukla says, "...It is not in our domain (IPL), they have done it for some foreign league...They will have to take a call; we cannot do anything" pic.twitter.com/pV6JQu1wmg
— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2026

Owned by Sun TV Network, the franchise faced massive backlash in India after it signed Abrar for Sunrisers Leeds amid strained ties between India and Pakistan.

Sunrisers owner Kavya Maran, who was present at the auction alongside head coach Daniel Vettori, faced online criticism, with some posts even calling her a supporter of Pakistan.

Abrar has also come under fire from several Indian social media users after some of his old posts resurfaced online in which he allegedly mocked Indian soldiers.

The posts reportedly referenced the viral “tea is fantastic” meme linked to Abhinandan Varthaman, the Indian Air Force pilot captured by Pakistan during the 2019 India–Pakistan standoff following the Pulwama attack.

Reactions

Background of Kavya Maran.

Grandfather Murasoli Maran (DMK MP)
Uncle Dayanidhi Maran (DMK MP)
She is the grandniece of Karunanidhi (DMK)

No wonder she chose a Pakistani player. pic.twitter.com/lQaXHOwIsr
— Kreately.in (@KreatelyMedia) March 13, 2026

Buying Pakistani players = funding terror!sm.

1 Like - 1 Slapped to Kavya maran. pic.twitter.com/LC9pwQIXsF
— muffatball vikrant (@Vikrant_1589) March 13, 2026

DMK + SUN GROUP + KAVYA MARAN just SOLD OUR NATION'S PRIDE!

They picked Pakistani spinner ABRAR AHMED — the same guy who MOCKED our martyred Indian soldiers during terror attacks and war! While our jawans were bleeding, this filth was laughing at us!

And who’s behind… pic.twitter.com/wV5UBFm0Ew
— Nadodi Mannan (@NadodiMannanYt) March 12, 2026

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