Sunrisers Leeds’ X account suspended after backlash over Abrar Ahmed signing

The Sunrisers Leeds’ X (formerly Twitter) account has been suspended after the team picked up Pakistan mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed in the 2026 Hundred Men’s Auction for GBP 190,000. He became the second Pakistani player to be sold at the auction after spinner Usman Tariq was picked by the Trent Rockets, the first Pakistan player signed by an Indian-owned franchise.

Immediately after the move, the Sun Group-owned franchise saw reactions from Indian fans on social media, including multiple vitriolic comments which protested the move from the Headingley-based franchise.

“Once we missed out on Adil Rashid [to Southern Brave], who was a priority early on, then we obviously jumped into the overseas spinner,” Sunrisers head coach, Daniel Vettori, was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. “There were four or five guys that we were looking at and Abrar was one of them. Very pleased to get him.”

Hours after Abrar’s signing account was suspended without any communication. On trying to open the account the following message appears: “Account suspended. X suspends accounts which violate the X rules.”

Pakistan players have not been signed by Indian-owned franchises, with few exceptions, owing to the diplomatic and geopolitical tensions between the neighbouring states. Pakistan players have not been part of the Indian Premier League since 2008, while the two countries also do not engage in bilateral cricket since 2012, with their meetings limited to multi-team events under the ACC (Asia Cup) and ICC (World Cups and Champions Trophy).

Meanwhile, Abrar’s signing comes after early reports from the BBC where a “senior ECB official” had informed that Indian-owned franchises would not be signing players from Pakistan. Later, the ECB saying that they have not received any such communications, confirming that the players will be picked based on  “performance, availability, and the needs of each team”.

The Sun Group completed a 100% takeover of the franchise now called Sunrisers Leeds (formerly Nothern Superchargers) purchasing the 51% stake put for sale by the ECB for attracting foreign investment into The Hundred, then further purchasing the 49% stake owned by Yorkshire CCC.