Sunrisers Leeds’ X account suspended after signing Pakistan star in The Hundred auction

Sunrisers Leeds’ official X account was suspended shortly after the franchise signed Pakistan mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed during The Hundred 2026 player auction

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

The England-based franchise Sunrisers Leeds has found itself at the center of a major controversy during the 2026 edition of The Hundred after its official X (formerly Twitter) account was suddenly suspended. The suspension occurred shortly after the franchise signed Pakistan mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed during the men’s player auction, sparking intense reactions across social media platforms.

Abrar Ahmed’s signing itself was a notable moment in the tournament’s history. The Pakistani spinner was acquired by Sunrisers Leeds for around $255,000 (£190,000) during the auction. The move made him the first Pakistani cricketer to be signed by an Indian-owned franchise in The Hundred, which immediately drew widespread attention from cricket fans and analysts.

However, the announcement soon triggered a wave of backlash on social media, particularly from some Indian fans who questioned the decision because of long-standing political tensions between India and Pakistan. Many users targeted the franchise and its ownership group online, which further intensified the discussion surrounding the signing.

Also read: ‘Most pressure on...’: Faf du Plessis’ bold take on star India cricketer ahead of IPL 2026

Social media backlash and suspension of the account

Soon after the auction, users noticed that the official X account of Sunrisers Leeds had disappeared. Instead of the team’s profile, the platform displayed a message stating that the account had been “suspended for violating X rules.”

The timing of the suspension, coming just hours after Abrar Ahmed’s signing, fueled speculation that the controversy surrounding the move may have played a role in the situation. The franchise is owned by the Sun TV Network, which also owns IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad and SA20 franchise Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

Sun TV acquired full ownership of the Leeds-based team after purchasing stakes from both the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Yorkshire County Cricket Club before rebranding the team from Northern Superchargers to Sunrisers Leeds.

Also read: Suryakumar Yadav reveals dressing room conversation after Ahmedabad call in T20 World Cup 2026

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