Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Leg-spinner rejoins for Kent’s T20 Blast title defence
Qais Ahmad will be back at Kent Spitfires next year to help their bid to retain their T20 Blast title.
The Afghanistan international leg-spinner, who made 12 appearances during their 2021 campaign, will be available for all of next summer’s T20 Blast. The 21-year-old took 10 wickets this summer with an impressive economy rate of 6.65 - the fourth-best economy of any bowler in the competition to play 10 or more matches. Memorable performances included his spell of 2-13 in the Spitfires’ quarter-final against Birmingham Bears and 2-19 in the final against Somerset as Kent won by 25 runs at Edgbaston.
He said: “I really enjoyed my first season as a Kent Spitfire and I’m excited to come back for another season. “Winning the Blast was very special and is something I will always look back on with pride.
“It’s a great dressing room at Kent and I’m looking forward to linking-up with the rest of the squad again as we look to defend our title.” Kent’s director of cricket Paul Downton said: “We are delighted that Qais will be returning to play for us for the duration of the 2022 Blast.
“Having a leg-spinner of Qais’ quality in our side was a major factor in our ability to contain the opposition’s run-rate and, ultimately, win matches in our title-winning run.
“He is a wicket-taker in the crucial middle overs and had a standout economy rate. “He is a very popular figure within our dressing room, as well as with our members and supporters, and we all look forward to welcoming Qais back next season.”
Ryan ten Doeschate has joined Kent’s coaching team. The former Netherlands international, who retired from playing at the end of the 2021 season, takes over as batting coach and will link up with Kent from January 1. Ten Doeschate, a former team-mate of Kent head coach Matt Walker at Essex, said: “I’m excited to be given the opportunity to work with Matt Walker and the Kent squad, especially with the talented group of players that have just won the T20 Blast and will compete in Division 1 of next season’s County Championship. “I’m ready to start a new chapter of my career and use my experience - and that of some of the others I’ve worked with - to influence and improve the players and the group.”