Sunrisers Leeds X Account Suspended After Abrar Ahmed Hundred Signing Backlash

The official X account of Sunrisers Leeds was suspended shortly after the franchise announced the signing of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed during the The Hundred auction.

The development occurred just hours after the deal was finalised, drawing widespread attention and debate among cricket fans online.

Sunrisers Leeds, a franchise owned by the Sun Group, secured the services of Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 (around ₹2.34 crore) during the player auction held in London.

X Account Suspended Without Explanation

When users attempted to access the team’s account on X, they were shown a notice stating that the account had been suspended for violating platform rules.

As of now, the platform has not issued an official explanation regarding the suspension.

The timing of the action has raised speculation, as it came shortly after the franchise confirmed the controversial signing.

Franchise Ownership and IPL Link

Sunrisers Leeds is linked to the Indian Premier League through its ownership group.

The franchise is connected to Sunrisers Hyderabad, which also belongs to the Sun Group.

The organisation is led by media baron Kalanithi Maran, while Kavya Maran serves as a key decision-maker in the franchise’s cricket operations.

Kavya Maran was present at the auction table alongside head coach Daniel Vettori when the team successfully outbid competitors to sign Abrar Ahmed.

Rare Signing of Pakistan Cricketer

Abrar Ahmed’s recruitment is notable because it marks one of the rare instances in recent years where a franchise linked to the IPL has signed a Pakistani player.

Due to longstanding political tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistani cricketers have largely been absent from the IPL since 2008.

This context added to the controversy surrounding the signing.

Social Media Backlash

Following the announcement, several Indian fans criticised the move on social media platforms.

Some users called for a boycott of Sunrisers Hyderabad, linking the Hundred franchise’s decision with the IPL team’s ownership.

The debate quickly gained traction online, turning the signing into a major talking point among cricket followers.

Team Leadership for The Hundred

Sunrisers Leeds are expected to compete in the upcoming season of The Hundred under the captaincy of Harry Brook, England’s T20 international skipper.

The franchise hopes to build a competitive squad for the tournament despite the controversy surrounding the signing.

Situation Remains Unclear

While the account suspension has generated speculation, there has been no official confirmation connecting the suspension directly to the backlash.

Both the franchise and the social media platform have yet to release a detailed statement about the incident.

Cricket fans and analysts are now waiting for further clarification on why the account was suspended.