Batting all-rounder Saif Zaib joins Hampshire on multi-year deal
Zaib makes the move from Northamptonshire where he scored nearly 7,000 runs and took 98 wickets
Zaib, 28, makes the move from Northamptonshire after 13 seasons, during which he scored nearly 7,000 runs and took 98 wickets.
He led the 2025 County Championship in runs, racking up 1,425 with six centuries and seven fifties, including a career-best 196 not out against Kent. With Northamptonshire, he won the 2026 Vitality Blast as the Steelbacks beat Hampshire Hawks by 14 runs in the final at Edgbaston.
Saif Zaib said: “I’m excited to start a new chapter of my career with Hampshire. They are a highly competitive and ambitious club, and I look forward to joining up with the squad soon.
“I’ve loved my time at Northamptonshire and can’t thank them enough for giving me the opportunity to play professional cricket, something I’ve been lucky enough to do for 12 years, but I feel now is the time for a change.
“I want to help get Hampshire back to Division One and contribute to winning matches and tournaments. They are a great force, especially in white ball cricket, and I hope I can be part of the team’s success next season and beyond.”
Zaib made his debut for Northamptonshire aged 16 in 2014, having come through the Buckinghamshire pathway.
The left-hander’s first century came against Sussex in the 2021 County Championship when he made 135 at Wantage Road. Since then, Zaib has scored 12 First-Class hundreds, with nine coming since the start of the 2025 season.
Over the last two years, Zaib has scored 2,281 First-Class runs at an average of 54, with 16 wickets at 33 runs apiece.
Giles White, Director of Cricket, said: “We're delighted to welcome Saif to the club. He's been an excellent performer for several years and has been especially prolific with the bat in Championship cricket over the last two seasons.
“His versatility makes him an exciting addition to the squad, and he'll strengthen our side in both red and white ball competitions. We look forward to having him on board.”
In white ball cricket, Zaib is a dangerous hitter in the middle order and a canny operator with the ball. He has scored over 1,600 runs in the T20 Blast at a strike rate of 146.45, with eight fifties. With the ball, he has claimed 21 wickets at an economy rate of eight runs per over.
Southern Brave signed Zaib for the 2026 Hundred competition, and he featured twice as the team finished sixth in the men’s competition. He previously featured eight times for Welsh Fire in 2025 and in six games for Northern Superchargers in 2023.
Zaib is currently in action for Sudur Paschim Royals in the Nepal Premier League, which began on 26 October.
Fans can watch Saif in action with a Hampshire Cricket Membership.
2027 Memberships are now on sale from just £230, giving access to all Hampshire men's and women’s home matches across the County Championship and One Day Cup. Premium memberships, which include access to the Vitality Blast, are available for £300, with junior memberships starting at £35.
For more information on Hampshire Cricket’s membership packages, please visit www.utilitabowl.com/membership