Saif Zaib 'disappointed' to be overlooked but determined to keep pushing for England recognition

Zaib admits he was disappointed to be overlooked by the England Lions selectors over the winter, having finished the 2025 season as the country's leading run-scorer in red ball cricket.

He couldn’t have done much more, scoring a whopping 1,425 runs including six centuries and seven half-centuries.

The Lions took teams to Australia and Dubai for separate series, but Zaib was a surprise omission when the squads were revealed.

It was a blow for the player, but he insists he will 'keep putting my name out there' in the hope that he finally gets what would be a deserved a call up in 2026.

Asked if it is still ambition to represent his country, Zaib declared: "Yes, 100 per cent.

"If you had talked to me this time last year, I would have said the same thing, that my ambition is to play for England.

"I really want to push for that and give myself the best chance, and hopefully it does happen.

"But at the same time, as long as I give my 100 per cent to it then I am happy and whatever happens, happens.

"I just really want to give it a good crack."

Looking back on missing out on a Lions call in the winter, Zaib admitted he was 'a bit unlucky' but he is not bitter about it.

He is just going to concentrating on performing for Northants, and then see where that takes him.

On missing out on selection for the Lions, Zaib said: "It is obviously natural to be a bit disappointed, but at the same time they pick teams to compete in Australia, and then Dubai, and it is fine.

"I feel like I have been a little bit unlucky, but at the same time it is just how it is and I just need to keep putting my name out there.

"It is a nice feeling to have your name out there, and I just want to keep pushing my case and hopefully going into this summer I can push my name even further up the order."

Zaib also has another stint in The Hundred on his list for 2026.

Selected to play for Welsh Fire last summer, the Northants man failed to make the most of the opportunity, and he was been overlooked in the initial draft for this year's tournament.

There are still wildcard slots up for grabs though, and Zaib will be aiming to shine for the Steelbacks in the Vitality Blast when it starts next month to try and catch the eye and get a belated call.

"I was a bit disappointed how my own Hundred went last year, and I just found it a tough format," admitted the High Wycombe-born player.

"When you have play T20 cricket for so long, 100 balls just seems so much quicker, and you are playing against the best in the world.

"I will be the first to admit I did struggle, which is fine, but hopefully if I do get another chance then I will have learned from last season.

"Going into this year I just want to keep learning and improving as much as I can, and improve on last year."

Zaib will be hoping to get among the runs when Northants play their third Rothesay County Championship Division Two match of the season against Middlesex at the County Ground on Friday (start 11am).

The left-hander endured a difficult opener against Lancashire with the bat, scoring just four and 10 across two innings as the match ended in a draw, and then wasn’t required as the Northants top order rattled up 684 for two declared in their only innings in last weekend’s clash with Kent at Canterbury.