Bowler Arafat Bhuiyan signs professional terms with Kent for 2023 season and goes into County Championship Division 1 squad for trip to Surrey

A bowler has signed professionally for Kent - and goes straight into their latest County Championship squad.

Right-armer Arafat Bhuiyan has agreed terms for the remainder of Kent’s 2023 season.

Born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, but with UK residency, he has taken 17 wickets for Kent 2nds with best figures of 4-81 against Hampshire last week.

He plays his club cricket in the Kent League Premier Division for Blackheath and took 4-26 on Saturday against St Lawrence & Highland Court in a losing cause.

The 26-year-old will wear number 26 for Kent and goes into their squad to face champions and leader Surrey in LV= Insurance County Championship Division 1, beginning from tomorrow at The Kia Oval.

Fast-medium bowler Bhuiyan said: “I’m over the moon to have signed for Kent.

“It’s a dream come true to become a professional cricketer and I feel all my hard work has paid off.

“I’m grateful to Kent, especially second-team coach Mark Dekker, for the faith they have showed in me, and hope I can perform well if given the opportunity.

“I would also like to thank Dr Tom Brown from SACA [the South African Cricket Academy] for giving me the opportunity to train and for accommodating me during the winter in Birmingham.

“I can’t speak highly enough about the amount of work he’s putting into this programme.”

Kent director of cricket Paul Downton said: “Arafat performed well at pre-season training and has impressed our coaching staff with the quality of his performances in our second XI.

“He has also been a consistent wicket-taker for Blackheath in the Kent League Premier Division.

“Arafat fully deserves this opportunity and we all wish him well.”

On Twitter, Blackheath CC wrote: “Fantastic news and thoroughly well deserved!

“You have a good one