A social media post by fugitive businessman Lalit Modi has sparked fresh debate after he appeared to react to the controversy surrounding the selection of Pakistani cricketer Abrar Ahmed by a franchise owned by Kavya Maran during the inaugural auction of The Hundred. The move to sign Abrar Ahmed has triggered strong reactions online, particularly among Indian cricket fans, given the longstanding absence of Pakistani players from the Indian Premier League.

The controversy began after the Sunrisers-owned franchise participating in The Hundred purchased Abrar Ahmed for £190,000, roughly ₹2.34 crore, during the auction held in London. The signing quickly drew criticism on social media, with some users questioning the decision to recruit a Pakistani player at a time of heightened sensitivities among fans. The backlash grew so intense that the franchise’s official social media account was reportedly temporarily suspended amid the surge of reactions.

Amid the uproar, Lalit Modi posted a cryptic message on the social media platform X that many observers interpreted as being directed at the franchise and its owner Kavya Maran. In his post, Modi wrote that investing ₹2.34 crore on a Pakistani player while fans were already “on edge” raised questions about public perception. He added that he understood the challenges of managing optics and building sporting empires, concluding the post with the remark “Call me,” which fueled speculation about whom the message was aimed at.

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Although Modi did not explicitly mention the franchise or its ownership in the post, the timing, reference to the transfer amount, and mention of a Pakistani player made it clear to many observers what incident he was referencing. The situation also revived discussion about the absence of Pakistani cricketers from the Indian Premier League, where players from Pakistan have not participated since the tournament’s inaugural season in 2008 following the deterioration of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Lalit Modi himself remains a controversial figure in Indian cricket administration. The former IPL chairman left India in 2010 after being accused of financial irregularities, including allegations related to tax evasion, money laundering, and irregularities in broadcasting rights deals connected to the IPL. Investigations by the Enforcement Directorate alleged that he manipulated aspects of the league’s media rights process in exchange for substantial kickbacks.

In recent years, Modi has continued to comment publicly on cricket and Indian affairs from abroad. In December 2025, he issued an apology after referring to himself and businessman Vijay Mallya as two of the “biggest fugitives” in a viral video. While the apology did not specify what remarks he was retracting, Modi said he regretted any offense caused to the Indian government and insisted that his comments had been misinterpreted.

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