The signing of Abrar Ahmed by Sunrisers Leeds, a team controlled by an Indian parent business, has caused significant controversy surrounding The Hundred's most recent player draft.
Many Indian cricket fans responded strongly on social media after the announcement. Sunrisers Leeds' official X (previously Twitter) account was inundated with insulting remarks from disgruntled fans. The account was apparently temporarily restricted due to the quantity and type of these responses.
The circumstances have also brought attention to the increasing impact of corporate funding from India in The Hundred competition. Some fans and pundits are concerned about the league's future because a number of the competition's franchises are now owned by businesses associated with India's cricket industry.
The Hundred was first presented by the England and Wales Cricket Board as a distinctive and cutting-edge format designed to draw in new cricket fans. The tournament's unique team identities, imaginative branding, and unique playing structure made it stand out at first.
However, a number of clubs have changed their names, emblems, and identities in response to the arrival of new investors. Opponents contend that these modifications have gradually diminished the tournament's distinct personality.
Four of The Hundred's teams this season are owned by Indian parent businesses. According to earlier reports, these teams would not recruit Pakistani players because of the long-standing political and cricket issues between India and Pakistan.
To guarantee that teams would not be subjected to pressure regarding player selections based on nationality, the ECB really had to step in immediately.
Despite this, Sunrisers Leeds became the first Indian-owned team in the competition to choose a Pakistani player when they signed mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed at the draft. But the action caused an unexpected backlash on the internet.
Negative comments that also attacked the team's ownership were directed at Kavya Maran, who represents the franchise's ownership group.
The controversy has once again led many observers to question if contemporary cricket is changing from a sport centered only on rivalry and global solidarity to one that is increasingly turning into a business driven by sizable fan bases, particularly in India.