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All-Rounder

Saif
Zaib

18

18

Saif
Zaib

Career appearances

139

First-class centuries

3

T20 Strike rate

135.93

Date of Birth:
22/05/1998
Shirt Number:
18
Batting Style:
Left-hand Bat
Bowling Style:
Slow Left-arm Orthodox

Slowly but surely, Northamptonshire’s youngest-ever first-team player is shaking off the tag of promising prodigy and becoming an important part of the county’s side in all formats.

The burden of expectation has been on batting all-rounder Saif Zaib since making an appearance in a first-team friendly against Durham UCCE as a 15-year-old in 2014, with a List A debut following shortly after his 16th birthday against New Zealand A. Glimpses of quality have been shown since then, but never has he been able to hold down a first-team place. Or at least that was the case until 2022.

It was in the Vitality Blast where he particularly impressed. Playing in a middle-order role, coming to the crease to back up the performances of Chris Lynn, Josh Cobb. and Jimmy Neesham, or to help his side recover if the key men had faltered, the academy graduate’s 311 runs came at an average of 34.55 and were struck at a rate of 150.97. His tally included three half-centuries, with a career best 92 made in defeat to Derbyshire.

Performances belonging to a player of seniority also came in the other formats. His century against Essex in the One Day Cup was enough to see him recruited as cover by the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, while a second-innings 124 against Surrey’s international-quality bowling attack in the County Championship helped to rescue his side from a perilous position and record an impressive draw.

Turning 25 during the second month of the 2023 season and having made over 100 appearances for Northamptonshire in all formats, Zaib has reached a point in a career where consistent performances of high quality are required rather than brief moments of promise, and he appears to be delivering just that.

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