Sunrisers Leeds made headlines during The Hundred 2026 player auction after signing Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed. Soon after the announcement, reports said that the franchise’s official account on X (formerly Twitter) was suspended, which created a lot of discussion online.
The incident attracted attention because the signing itself was already being widely discussed among cricket fans.
Abrar Ahmed Signed by Sunrisers Leeds
During the first men’s auction of The Hundred held in London, Sunrisers Leeds secured the services of Abrar Ahmed for £190,000. The franchise had to compete with Trent Rockets before winning the bid.
Abrar Ahmed became the first Pakistani cricketer to be signed by a team owned by an Indian company in The Hundred competition.
Sunrisers Leeds is owned by the Sun Group, the same company that owns the IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Key details of the signing
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Franchise | Sunrisers Leeds |
| Owner | Sun Group (owners of Sunrisers Hyderabad) |
| Player | Abrar Ahmed |
| Role | Leg-spinner |
| Auction | The Hundred 2026 player auction |
| Signing price | £190,000 |
| Approx value | About USD 255,000 |
| Competing bidder | Trent Rockets |
The signing quickly became one of the talking points of the auction.
Sunrisers Leeds X account suspension
A few hours after the signing announcement, reports stated that the official X account of Sunrisers Leeds had been suspended.
The suspension happened shortly after the franchise shared the signing news on social media. However, the exact reason behind the suspension was not officially explained.
The sudden disappearance of the account caught the attention of many fans and led to further discussions online.
Reactions from fans on social media
The signing of Abrar Ahmed by an Indian-owned franchise created mixed reactions on social media platforms.
Some fans criticized the franchise and owner Kavya Maran for signing a Pakistani player. Others pointed out that cricket leagues are global competitions where players from different countries participate.
At the same time, some people highlighted the historical aspect of the signing, noting that Abrar Ahmed became the first Pakistani cricketer to join an Indian-owned team in The Hundred.
What this means for Sunrisers Leeds
The signing has brought both attention and controversy to Sunrisers Leeds ahead of the upcoming season. The suspension of the team’s social media account has also added to the discussion around the franchise.
The team will now focus on preparing for The Hundred tournament and building a strong squad for the competition.
Abrar Ahmed’s arrival also adds a quality spin option to the team. His experience in international cricket and franchise leagues could help Sunrisers Leeds during the season.
Abrar Ahmed’s signing shows how The Hundred continues to attract players from different parts of the world. It also highlights the growing international nature of franchise cricket.
While debates continue online, cricket fans will be watching closely to see how Abrar performs in the tournament and how Sunrisers Leeds manage the attention around the signing.
