Duo agree to extend deals

Kent have extended the contracts of two of their promising young players. Batsman Tawanda Muyeye, 21, has signed fresh terms until at least the end of the 2025 season, while reigning emerging player-of-the-year Hamid Qadri, 22, has penned a new deal until the end of next season.

Qadri impressed with bat and ball as Kent last year won the Royal London One-day Cup. “Kent is the best place for me to be right now to continue my development as a player - I’ve benefited a lot from working with the likes of Min Patel and James Tredwell, two guys that made their names as spinners at Kent - and I’m looking forward to the start of the season,” he said.

Qadri joined on a three-year contract ahead of the 2020 season, having made his firstclass debut for Derbyshire against Glamorgan in 2017, aged 16. When doing so, he produced figures of 5-60 in the second innings.

But last year, he found slightly more consistency.

He took 4-36 against Northamptonshire in the Royal London One-day Cup and also claimed 6-129 in County Championship Division 1 against Lancashire earlier in the season. Qadri was Kent Spitfires’ top wicket-taker, with 15, in their successful One-day Cup campaign. He took 1-43 in their final win against Lancashire. In first-class cricket, he surpassed his previous best score with the bat twice scoring 77 against Lancashire in April, followed by 87 against Somerset in the final match of the 2022 season. Right-hander Muyeye, also a spinner, joined Kent on the eve of the 2021 season after being named Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year and has 31 appearances for the county. “I’m really excited to continue my journey as a professional cricketer at Kent,” Muyeye said.

“I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity to play for this team across all formats.”