Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) owner Kavya Maran has refused to comment on the controversy surrounding the signing of Pakistan players in The Hundred. The debate began after Sunrisers Leeds signed Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 during the player draft.
The 2026 season of The Hundred began on Tuesday, July 21, at Kennington Oval with the opening match between Sunrisers Leeds and MI London. MI London, led by Sam Curran, chased down the 145-run target to register a seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers Leeds, led by Zak Crawley.
"We Have So Many"- Kavya Maran Declines to Comment on Abrar Ahmed
During a recent media interaction, Kavya Maran was asked about the criticism over Sunrisers Leeds signing Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed. However, she avoided commenting on the controversy and stated that they assembled a balanced squad during the player draft.
"We are really happy with both our squads; we have so many bases covered," Kavya Maran said during an interaction with The Telegraph.
Sunrisers Hyderabad became the only Indian Premier League franchise to take full ownership of a The Hundred team after buying Yorkshire's 51% stake and the England and Wales Cricket Board's 49% share in Sunrisers Leeds.
After speculation that Indian-owned teams would avoid signing Pakistan players, the ECB and all eight franchises released a joint statement, reaffirming their commitment to equality.
Abrar Ahmed's The Hundred Debut Ends on a Disappointing Note
Abrar Ahmed had a mixed debut for Sunrisers Leeds against MI London. The 27-year-old Pakistan spinner started with the bat, hitting a six off the first ball he faced. He scored seven runs off three balls before being dismissed.
However, Abrar Ahmed had a difficult outing with the ball at Kennington Oval. He conceded 30 runs in his 10-ball spell and failed to take a wicket as MI London comfortably chased down the target to begin the tournament with a seven-wicket win.
Other Pakistan players have also joined The Hundred this season. Birmingham Phoenix signed spinner Usman Tariq for their men's team. The franchise also added Pakistan women's captain Fatima Sana as a replacement after the women's draft.
Jacob Bethell Ruled Out of The Hundred With Knee Injury
England all-rounder Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of The Hundred with a right knee injury. The 21-year-old suffered the injury during England's recent ODI series against India. He underwent an MRI scan on Monday before officially withdrawing from the tournament.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the news in an official statement and said Bethell has started his rehabilitation.
"Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of The Hundred due to a right knee injury," the ECB said in a statement. "He sustained the injury during the Metro Bank ODI Series and had an MRI scan yesterday morning. He will start his rehabilitation, and we will provide updates as needed."
Bethell signed a £340,000 deal to captain Birmingham Phoenix, owned by Knighthead Capital. The young all-rounder is regarded as a future England captain, and the injury could also affect his availability for the Test series against Pakistan, which begins on August 19 at Headingley.
