Afghanistan leg-spinner signs Gloucestershire deal

Afghanistan spinner Qais Ahmad has signed for Gloucestershire to play in next season’s Vitality Blast and six Specsavers County Championship games.
The 19-year-old leg-spinner made his Test debut in September but remains a relatively inexperienced performer, with just 12 first-class appearances under his belt as well as nine List A matches and 35 Twenty20s.
He has played for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash as well as St Lucia Stars and Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL. The considerable excitement around the teenager was reflected in the recent draft for The Hundred, where Welsh Fire picked him up in the fourth round.
He has signed up for the entirety of the Vitality T20 Blast with Gloucs and will also be available for the final six games of the County Championship as his new side look to establish themselves in Division One following last season’s promotion.
“It is a great honour for me to join Gloucestershire after they had such a successful 2019,” said Qais.
“Having played T20 cricket around the world I have always wanted to play first class cricket in England to develop my red ball skills.”
Head coach Richard Dawson added: “I’m delighted that Qais has agreed to join us for next season as the club enters its first season in Division One since 2004.
“We had a very strong season in 2019 and Qais will help take us to the next level in both the long and short formats with his game-changing skills. He’s one of the most exciting young spinners in the world.”
Latest
-
News
Jos Buttler understands ‘complicated’ decision for players to skip Bangladesh
Alex Hales, Sam Billings and Liam Dawson are among those missing the white-ball tour to play in the Pakistan Super League.
-
News
Kyle Jamieson returns to New Zealand fold for England Tests but Trent Boult out
Fast bowler Jamison has played for New Zealand since last summer.
-
News
Jos Buttler focusing on positives despite England’s series loss in South Africa
There were some standout performances in the series as Jason Roy, Dawid Malan and Buttler all made hundreds.
-
News
England hand Rehan Ahmed first white-ball call-up for tour of Bangladesh
Ahmed became England’s youngest men’s Test cricketer when he lined up against Pakistan in Karachi.
-
News
How are England’s prospects looking ahead of World Cup defence?
Twin defeats in Bloemfontein meant victory in Kimberley was a mere consolation for double world champions England.
-
England
Jonny Bairstow heading in the right direction in his recovery from injury
The 33-year-old Yorkshireman underwent successful surgery on a broken leg and dislocated ankle in September after a freak golf incident.
-
England
Jofra Archer enjoys new role as he bowls England to victory in South Africa
Archer did not open the bowling but produced career-best ODI figures.
-
England
Sir Andrew Strauss lauds ‘extraordinary leaders’ Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes
England’s men’s team have won nine of their 10 Test matches under the new regime.
-
England
Jofra Archer returns career-best ODI figures as England claim consolation win
England won the third and final match against South Africa but had already lost the series.
-
England
Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler hit hundreds as England fight back in South Africa
Buttler’s men are bidding to avoid a series clean sweep and a sixth successive loss in the ODI format.