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Afghanistan leg spinner Qais Ahmad has been signed by Kent to play in the upcoming edition of T20 Blast. He will be also featuring in two County Championship games for Kent. Qais has previously featured in T20 leagues in Australia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and in the Caribbean Premier League. Ahmad has played 67 matches in his T20 career and has picked up 77 wickets at an economy rate of 7.15. He made his Test debut for Afghanistan against Bangladesh in September 2019.
Qais had signed with Gloucestershire last year but his contract had to be terminated due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. As a result, this will be his first stint in County cricket. He will also play for Welsh Fire in the inaugural season of The Hundred. Ahmad is the fifth Afghanistan player to sign a deal for this year’s T20 Blast, after Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi and Naveen-ul-Haq. The signing of Qais hints at a change in strategy for the 2021 season for Kent.
"I'm excited to play in the Vitality Blast and I'm really looking forward to being a Kent Spitfire. Having played alongside Daniel Bell-Drummond at Colombo Kings, I have heard good things about Kent and I will give it my all", Qais Ahmad said.
Paul Downton, the club's Director of Cricket, said "Qais Ahmad is an exciting talent who has shown his ability in top-quality leagues all over the world. I am confident that his enthusiasm for the game will make him a firm favourite with our members and supporters as we look to welcome crowds back to watching live cricket again."