Kent bring back Qais Ahmad for whole of 2022 T20 Blast season

The 21-year-old was a key figure in Kent's run to their second Blast title last term, posting figures of 2 for 13 in the quarter-final win over Birmingham Bears and 2 for 19 in the final against Somerset

Kent Spitfires are keeping the band together for the 2022 T20 Blast, with Afghanistan spinner Qais Ahmad set to return to the club.

Ahmad, who claimed 10 wickets for the Spitfires on the way to Finals Day success last year, will be back at Canterbury for the entire T20 campaign next summer.

The 21-year-old was a key figure in Kent's run to their second Blast title, posting figures of 2 for 13 in the quarter-final win over Birmingham Bears and 2 for 19 in the final against Somerset.

^{Qais Ahmad is returning to Kent for the 2022 T20 Blast (Ashley Allen/Getty Images)}

A strangling economy rate of 6.65 also proved critical to his team's triumph; of bowlers to have bowled 100 or more deliveries in the 2021 Blast just six were more miserly. 

"I'm excited to come back for another season," Ahmad, who is currently with Melbourne Stars at the Big Bash, said.

"Winning the Vitality 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."

QAIS AHMAD: 2021 T20 BLAST

Balls bowled: 258

Dot balls: 96

Wickets: 10

Economy: 6.65

Director of cricket Paul Downton said: "We are delighted that Qais will be returning to play for us again.

"Having a leg-spinner of Qais's 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 stand-out economy rate.

"He's 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."

While the fixtures for the 2022 Blast have yet to be announced - with the ECB delaying their release until mid-January for reasons including the scheduling of women's international matches and the lingering possibility of demotion of Yorkshire - counties have been informed of the block set aside for the T20 element of the summer.

Ahmad claimed 10 wickets in the 2021 Blast (Ashley Allen/Getty Images)

Finals Day has been bumped forward in the calendar, with Edgbaston set to play host to its centrepiece event on Saturday, July 16. 

The bulk of the group stage of the tournament will therefore take place in June. It is not yet clear whether the competition will be interspersed with first-class fixtures or if it will stand alone.

The ECB is expected to move more County Championship matches to the heart of the summer - in June, July and August - following outcry at the perceived imbalance of the scheduling in 2021.