Imran Qayyum

Imran Qayyum had developed into Kent's premier limited-overs spinner before he was forced into early retirement at the age of 27 by a shoulder injury.

Qayyum Qayyum made his Kent first-class debut on a turning pitch in Northampton in 2016, taking three wickets. He broadened his experience by playing in Pakistan in the winter of 2014-15 and the benefits helped make him the leading wicket-taker for Kent 2nd XI the following summer. Qayyum, who was born in Ealing, played youth cricket for Middlesex and also represented Northants and Sussex at 2nd XI level.

Qayyum's breatkthrough year arrived in 2017 as he was regularly preferred to the former England spinner James Tredwell in the T20 Blast and made three Championship appearances. He has made steady progress since. His 12 wickets from nine Blast matches in 2019 came at an economy rate of 7.49 and included a career-best 5 for 21 which was instrumental in Kent's 41-run win over Somerset.

Qayyum represented MCC in three fixtures in Lahore in February 2020, taking 4 for 9 from four overs to help secure victory over PSL side Multan Sultans.

He was a particularly effective presence in Kent's T20 side, filling the void left by James Tredwell's retirement at the end of 2018. He was disappointed to be overlooked in the drafts for the first season of the Hundred, and would have continued to be a key member of their white-ball set-up but for his surprise retirement in May 2021.

ESPNcricinfo staff