Kent left-arm spinner Imran Qayyum has retired from cricket due to a shoulder injury. The 27-year-old became a key part of the club’s white-ball sides after making his limited-over debut in 2017. Qayyum claimed 43 wickets in the T20 Blast, making 82 appearances for the county across all formats. Qayyum claimed 43 wickets in the T20 Blast, making 82 appearances for the county across all formats. Qayyum said: “It’s disappointing that my career has been cut short, but I can look back with pride on the contributions I’ve made as a Kent player. I’ve enjoyed every minute of playing for Kent, and I’ll always be a Spitfire.
“I’d like to thank my teammates, coaches, support staff and especially Kent’s members and supporters for all of their support during my time as a professional cricketer and I’ll have nothing but good memories. “I’m very grateful of the opportunity that Kent Cricket gave me to live my childhood dream. I wish the very best of luck to everyone at the club. ”Kent director of cricket Paul Downton added: “I’d like to thank ‘Immy’ for all of his contributions made in a Kent shirt over the past seven seasons. “He became a mainstay in our T20 side over the past couple of seasons and it’s really unfortunate that his career has been cut short in this manner. We wish Imran all the very best for the future and he will always be welcome at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.” Qayyum only ended up playing six first-class games, specialising in white-ball formats where he played 29 List A games and 45 T20s, picking 45 wickets at an average of 25.73 in T20s and a career-best of 5 for 21 against Somerset. Before joining Kent, Qayyum played for Middlesex youth teams and for Northamptonshire and Sussex's second XI teams.
