When Saif Zaib played for Northamptonshire in their non-first-class fixture at Durham UCCE's Racecourse ground in May 2014 he became the first 15-year-old to play for the county, underlining his precocious talent as batsman and left-arm spinner. Nortnants soon offered him a three-year professional contract, and ahead of the 2015 season he shone for England's Under-17 against Pakistan U-17 in Dubai, scoring three successive half-centuries. He was schooled at RGS Wycombe, where his innings of 230 became a school record.

He made his debut in a county competition against Leicestershire in the Roayl London One-Day Cup in 2015 and with Northants slashing their cricket budget further opportunities seemed assured. Three more Championship matches fell his way in 2016 including five wickets in a marathon stint against Leicestershire.
ESPNcricinfo staff