Sunrisers Leeds' X Account Suspended Amid Abrar Ahmed Signing Controversy

The inaugural player auction for The Hundred 2026 men's competition, held on March 12, 2026, at Piccadilly Lights in central London, witnessed a significant controversy following Sunrisers Leeds' acquisition of Pakistani mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed. Sunrisers Leeds, the rebranded Northern Superchargers now fully owned by India's Sun TV Network (also owners of IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad), secured Ahmed for £190,000 (approximately Rs 2.34 crore or USD 255,000). This landmark signing marked the first instance of a Pakistani player being bought by an Indian-owned franchise in The Hundred, triggering widespread debate and outrage, particularly in India. Shortly after the announcement of Abrar Ahmed's signing, the official X (formerly Twitter) account of Sunrisers Leeds was suspended. While the social media platform did not provide an explicit reason for the suspension, users attempting to access the page were met with a message indicating that the account had violated X's rules. This suspension further fueled the controversy surrounding the team's decision. The core of the controversy stems from several factors. Firstly, there were prior reports suggesting a 'shadow ban' on Pakistani players by the four Indian-owned franchises participating in The Hundred 2026. These reports emerged amidst ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, which have historically impacted cricketing ties, including the exclusion of Pakistani players from the Indian Premier League (IPL) for many years. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had publicly denied these claims, emphasizing inclusivity and selection based solely on cricketing merit. Secondly, a significant portion of the Indian backlash was directed at Abrar Ahmed himself, reportedly due to controversial social media posts he made in mid-2025 that Indian fans perceived as mocking the Indian armed forces. News of his signing quickly led to hashtags like #ShameOnSRH and #BoycottSunrisers trending on X, with many fans criticizing the Sunrisers franchise and its co-owner, Kavya Maran, for disregarding national sentiment. Kavya Maran, who was present at the auction, was also subjected to online trolling. Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori addressed the controversy, explaining that the decision to purchase Abrar Ahmed was purely based on cricketing merit. He stated that the team's strategy shifted after they missed out on England spinner Adil Rashid during the retention window, creating a priority to secure a world-class spinner. Vettori noted that Abrar came highly recommended by Australian players and his skillset, including variations and wicket-taking ability, was considered valuable, especially for Headingley Cricket Ground where spinners often succeed. Vettori also emphasized that there were no special discussions regarding the nationality of players during the selection process. While Abrar Ahmed became a focal point, another Pakistani spinner, Usman Tariq, was also bought by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000. However, Birmingham Phoenix does not have direct IPL connections, which helped avoid similar levels of controversy. Conversely, several prominent Pakistani players like Haris Rauf went unsold, and Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrew from the auction prior to the event. This incident highlights the complex interplay of sports, business, and political sentiments, particularly within the cricket landscape involving India and Pakistan. The involvement of IPL franchise owners in global leagues often brings heightened scrutiny, and the backlash underscores the strong emotional connection fans have with these teams and national narratives.

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