News
Sunrisers Leeds X Account Suspended After Abrar Ahmed Hundred Signing Row
3/13/2026, 2:11:00 PM
The official account of Sunrisers Leeds on X (Twitter) was suspended shortly after the franchise signed Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed during the The Hundred auction for the 2026 season. The suspension came just hours after the signing triggered a wave of debate across social media platforms.
Abrar Ahmed became the first Pakistan cricketer to join an Indian owned franchise in the competition. The mystery spinner was purchased for £190,000, which is roughly valued at ₹2.34 crore.
The decision quickly generated strong reactions from sections of Indian cricket fans. Many users on social media expressed criticism of the move, pointing to the political tensions that have often influenced cricket relations between India and Pakistan.
The franchise is connected to the ownership group behind Sunrisers Hyderabad, with Kavya Maran associated with the franchise leadership. As criticism spread online, hashtags calling for a boycott of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League began trending.
The online debate soon turned the signing into one of the most discussed topics surrounding The Hundred auction.
Soon after the controversy gathered momentum, users noticed that the Sunrisers Leeds account had become inaccessible. Visitors attempting to open the page were shown a standard message stating that the account had been suspended for violating platform rules.
The platform has not released any official explanation about the decision. As a result, it remains unclear whether the suspension is directly connected to the controversy surrounding Abrar Ahmed’s signing.
Despite the uncertainty, the incident quickly became a talking point among cricket fans following the auction.
Abrar Ahmed was not the only Pakistan cricketer involved in the auction process. Fellow mystery spinner Usman Tariq secured a contract with Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000.
Unlike Sunrisers Leeds, Birmingham Phoenix does not have ownership connections with any Indian Premier League franchise. Because of that, the signing of Usman Tariq did not generate the same level of criticism.
Several other Pakistan cricketers, however, went unsold during the auction.
Prominent players including Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub and Shadab Khan failed to attract bids from the eight competing franchises.
Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi had earlier withdrawn his name from the auction. In the women’s category, Pakistan players Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal also went unsold.
These results reflected the unpredictable nature of franchise auctions where international reputation does not always guarantee a contract.
The auction also included several significant signings involving players from other countries. Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was signed by Birmingham Phoenix for £100,000.
One of the biggest deals of the auction saw English all rounder James Coles join London Spirit for £390,000. The contract made him one of the most expensive players in this year’s draft.
The controversy surrounding Abrar Ahmed’s signing highlights the complex relationship between international politics and modern franchise cricket. Domestic leagues increasingly bring players from rival cricket nations into the same dressing rooms.
For Sunrisers Leeds, the decision to sign Abrar Ahmed has drawn intense attention beyond the cricket field. While the team secured a talented mystery spinner, the surrounding debate has become one of the most talked about moments of The Hundred 2026 auction.
Abrar Ahmed became the first Pakistan cricketer to join an Indian owned franchise in the competition. The mystery spinner was purchased for £190,000, which is roughly valued at ₹2.34 crore.
Social Media Reaction
The decision quickly generated strong reactions from sections of Indian cricket fans. Many users on social media expressed criticism of the move, pointing to the political tensions that have often influenced cricket relations between India and Pakistan.
The franchise is connected to the ownership group behind Sunrisers Hyderabad, with Kavya Maran associated with the franchise leadership. As criticism spread online, hashtags calling for a boycott of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League began trending.
The online debate soon turned the signing into one of the most discussed topics surrounding The Hundred auction.
Account Suspension Mystery
Soon after the controversy gathered momentum, users noticed that the Sunrisers Leeds account had become inaccessible. Visitors attempting to open the page were shown a standard message stating that the account had been suspended for violating platform rules.
The platform has not released any official explanation about the decision. As a result, it remains unclear whether the suspension is directly connected to the controversy surrounding Abrar Ahmed’s signing.
Despite the uncertainty, the incident quickly became a talking point among cricket fans following the auction.
Pakistan Players In The Auction
Abrar Ahmed was not the only Pakistan cricketer involved in the auction process. Fellow mystery spinner Usman Tariq secured a contract with Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000.
Unlike Sunrisers Leeds, Birmingham Phoenix does not have ownership connections with any Indian Premier League franchise. Because of that, the signing of Usman Tariq did not generate the same level of criticism.
Several other Pakistan cricketers, however, went unsold during the auction.
Big Names Miss Contracts
Prominent players including Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub and Shadab Khan failed to attract bids from the eight competing franchises.
Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi had earlier withdrawn his name from the auction. In the women’s category, Pakistan players Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal also went unsold.
These results reflected the unpredictable nature of franchise auctions where international reputation does not always guarantee a contract.
Other Notable Deals
The auction also included several significant signings involving players from other countries. Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was signed by Birmingham Phoenix for £100,000.
One of the biggest deals of the auction saw English all rounder James Coles join London Spirit for £390,000. The contract made him one of the most expensive players in this year’s draft.
Wider Debate Around Franchise Cricket
The controversy surrounding Abrar Ahmed’s signing highlights the complex relationship between international politics and modern franchise cricket. Domestic leagues increasingly bring players from rival cricket nations into the same dressing rooms.
For Sunrisers Leeds, the decision to sign Abrar Ahmed has drawn intense attention beyond the cricket field. While the team secured a talented mystery spinner, the surrounding debate has become one of the most talked about moments of The Hundred 2026 auction.