Sunrisers Leeds 'X' Account Restored After Temporary Suspension Following Kavya Maran-Owned Franchise Picked Abrar Ahmed at The Hundred 2026

The official X (formerly Twitter) account for Sunrisers Leeds has been reinstated following a temporary suspension that sparked widespread speculation among cricket fans. The technical disruption occurred shortly after the franchise, owned by Kavya Maran’s Sun Group, announced the high-profile acquisition of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed for the 2026 season of The Hundred. Platform administrators reportedly flagged the account due to an unprecedented surge in engagement and automated security protocols following the announcement. Kavya Maran Faces Backlash After Abrar Ahmed Signed by IPL Team-Owned SunRisers Leeds at The Hundred Auction 2026.

Sunrisers Leeds X Account Restored

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The suspension, which lasted approximately six hours, saw the @SunrisersLeeds handle vanish from the platform, displaying a "profile not found" message. Sources close to the team suggest that the sheer volume of traffic from both UK and Pakistani fans triggered X’s automated spam filters.

Franchise officials confirmed they worked closely with X’s support team to verify the account’s authenticity. The restoration comes just in time for the team to continue its digital marketing campaign ahead of the 2026 player draft.

The Abrar Ahmed Acquisition

The catalyst for the social media frenzy was the confirmation that Abrar Ahmed would join the Leeds-based side as one of their marquee overseas signings. Known for his ability to turn the ball both ways with a finger-spin action, Ahmed is expected to be a major asset on the spinning tracks often seen at Headingley during the height of summer.

Abrar’s signing represents a significant tactical move for Sunrisers Leeds. The 2026 season marks the second year of private ownership in The Hundred, and the Kavya Maran-led management has been aggressive in securing talent that fits their spin-heavy philosophy, similar to their strategy with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. List of Pakistan Players Sold and Unsold at The Hundred Auction 2026.

Sunrisers’ Expanding Global Footprint

The purchase of a majority stake in the Leeds-based franchise (formerly the Northern Superchargers) by the Sun Group in 2025 was a landmark deal for English cricket. It marked the first time an IPL owner had fully integrated a UK team into their global sports portfolio.

Kavya Maran has been a visible figure in the team's transition, overseeing a rebranding that aligned the team's identity with the Sunrisers brand. The signing of Abrar Ahmed is seen as a key step in building a squad capable of improving on last year’s mid-table finish.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 13, 2026 03:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).