Steelbacks pair Rossington and Nabi set for Spirit stint in The Hundred

Afghanistan star Nabi, who has signed on at the County Ground for the Steelbacks' Vitality T20 Blast campaign, has today been officially unveiled as one of two overseas players recruited by the Lord's-based team.

And it has also been confirmed that Northants' red ball skipper Rossington, who was selected by Spirit in the original draft a year ago, will be joining him.

As well as Nabi, Spirit, who will be captained by England skipper Eoin Morgan, have also signed Pakistani quick bowler Mohammad Amir, while other English players signings confirmed today are Surrey seamer Jade Dernbach and Derbyshire’s Luis Reece.

They join the three players already announced in Morgan and England batsmen Zak Crawley and Dan Lawrence.

Spirit are one of eight teams taking part in The Hundred, a new 100-ball competition that was initially due to be launched last summer, but was postponed to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Hundred will feature eight city-based teams from Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Southampton and two in London. matches will be screened live by Sky and the BBC.

Nabi, who will play for the Steelbacks in June and July ahead of taking part in The Hundred, said: “I’m really excited to be taking part in The Hundred and to be staying at London Spirit.

"Playing at Lord’s is a dream for cricketers from around the world and with Eoin Morgan as captain, I’m sure we’ll have a successful first season.”

There is another Northants link to the Spirit squad, with Wantage Road head coach David Ripley set to be part of the coaching set-up for the Lord's-based team, who will be managed by Australian legend Shane Warne.

Former Northants batsman Ben Duckett has been named as part of the Welsh Fire team, who will be based in Cardiff, along with fellow England internationals Jonny Bairstow and Tom Banton.

England World Cup winner Jason Roy confirmed he will stay at London-based Oval Invincibles, with the remaining retained men’s players due to be announced on deadline day on February 4

There will also be a ladies competition, with the County Ground one of the options that could be used for London Spirit home games.

Full list of men's and ladies signings announced today:

Birmingham Phoenix: Emily Arlott, Kirstie Gordon, Tom Helm, Benny Howell, Phoebe Franklin, Abtaha Maqsood

London Spirit: Mohammad Amir, Amara Carr, Aylish Cranstone, Jade Dernbach, Danielle Gibson, Mohammad Nabi, Luis Reece, Adam Rossington, Susie Rowe, Chloe Tryon

Manchester Originals: Joe Clarke, Danielle Collins, Mignon du Preez, Alice Dyson, Cordelia Griffith, Hannah Jones, Lizelle Lee, Phil Salt

Northern Superchargers: Helen Fenby, Bess Heath, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Adam Lyth

Oval Invincibles: Megan Belt, Alex Blake, Eva Gray, Marizanne Kapp, Sunil Narine, Jason Roy, Rhianna Southby, Nathan Sowter

Southern Brave: Lauren Bell, Alex Davies, Sonia Odedra, Max Waller

Trent Rockets: Kathryn Bryce, Matthew Carter, Abbey Freeborn, Dawid Malan, Tom Moores, Steven Mullaney

Welsh Fire: Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Alex Griffiths, Georgia Hennessy, Lauren Filer, Sophie Luff, Natasha Wraith