Qayyum gearing up for Quarantine Cup
Wednesday 8th April 2020
After being named as the representative of the Kent Spitfires during the Quarantine Cup last week, we caught up with Imran Qayyum this week ahead of his opening match against Sussex’s Tymal Mills this Sunday.
- How much practice have you been putting in ahead of the tournament?
I’ve played a few games and I’m still getting used to the controls, to be honest. In the first game I played I was trying to hook yorkers over square leg! It didn’t go well…. but I’m ever improving.
- Are you happy with our draw in Group 2?
It’s a great draw, yeah. It’s always fun to play against Surrey, but hope it doesn’t rain in our game against Glamorgan like it seems to every year!
- Which county are you most looking forward to coming up against?
Leicestershire, I haven’t played against them yet in a limited overs game.
- What’s the reaction been from the Kent squad after we revealed you’ll be representing Kent?
They’re not expecting too much from me! I’m usually a once in a year sort of gamer…
- Without giving too much away, do you have any game plans or special tactics in mind?
I’m going to reverse-sweep every ball from the spinners and go downtown against the quickies. Go hard or go home. In terms of bowling – I’m aiming for the head or the toes…
- Do you think there will be anywhere near the amount of pressure playing in this compared to real matches?
Nope… we’d all obviously rather be playing matches for real. Unless the first couple of games in this Cup go badly for me!
- And finally, who’s the biggest gamer in the Kent squad?
DBD [Daniel Bell-Drummond] and Sam Billings – they both love their sports games.
Featuring pro players from 11 first-class counties and some of the game’s favourite commentators, the Quarantine Cup will take place using Big Ant Studios’ cricket video game, Cricket 19, from Sunday 12th April.
The round-robin format will see teams play each other once in matches lasting five-overs-a-side, and left-arm spinner Imran Qayyum will be representing the Kent Spitfires during the tournament.
Other county players due to represent their team will be revealed this week, as well as the identity of a number of high-profile commentators from across the world of cricket.
Matches will be live-streamed on The Cricketer’s YouTube channel. Matches will be staged on weekdays at 19:00 and weekends at 14:00 and 17:00.
The draw for the first round of the competition took place at 11:00 on Monday 30th March, and the Kent Spitfires were drawn by BBC Commentator Mark Church and his daughter Isabelle in Group 2, alongside Sussex, Glamorgan, Surrey and Leicestershire.
