The Steeler · https://thesteeler.news/news/saif-zaib-set-to-join-hampshire-after-northamptonshire-departure-175022
Saif Zaib set to join Hampshire after Northamptonshire departure
29.10.26, 18:51 Updated 29.10.26, 18:54
The Steeler understands that Saif Zaib is set to join Hampshire following news today that he is leaving Northamptonshire.
The south coast club, whose Hundred franchise Southern Brave signed Zaib this summer, is expected to make an announcement in the coming days.
In a statement this morning, Northamptonshire said that Zaib, 28, had informed them at the end of the season that he did not see his future career at Wantage Road. Despite discussions to reverse that decision, he will now leave the club with one year remaining on his contract.
The news comes as a major blow to the Steelbacks after Zaib’s prolific past two breakthrough seasons. In 2025, he finished as the country’s leading run-scorer across both divisions of the County Championship, amassing 1,425 runs at 64.77 with six centuries. While he did not quite hit the same heights this past season, he still totalled 856 runs, signing off with a century at Lord’s as Northamptonshire missed out on promotion.
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Jeremy Blackmore
Editoris the founder and editor of The Steeler. Jeremy is a freelance cricket writer and Wantage Road regular. He has written extensively for a host of publications including The Cricketer, The Cricket Paper, Wisden Cricket Monthly and ESPNcricinfo. He also covers Northamptonshire for the ECB Reporters Network.