ISLAMABAD: Six Pakistan cricketers have been confirmed as overseas signings for the 2026 Men’s Vitality Blast, with pace bowlers Akif Javed, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, and Mohammad Ali headlining the contingent alongside spinners Usman Tariq and Usama Mir across the North, South, and Central & West groups.
Pakistani players that will be part of Vitality T20 Blast 2026 pic.twitter.com/YEMO0j04Up
— Usman (@jamilmusman_) May 21, 2026
Tournament format
The 2026 edition kicks off on Friday, May 22, with Finals Day scheduled at Edgbaston on Saturday, July 18. A new-look group stage format divides 18 counties into three groups of six, North, South, and Central & West, with each team playing 12 matches.
BLAST OFF IN BRISTOL 💥
This Friday, the Central & West Group gets underway in style as Gloucestershire take on @WarwickshireCCC in the @VitalityBlast
New-look Blast. Same Friday feeling. 😍
🔗 https://t.co/wMp5mXsoPd pic.twitter.com/1miYfhYCTN
— Gloucestershire Cricket (@Gloscricket) May 20, 2026
Pakistan players by region
North Group
- Derbyshire Falcons: Akif Javed (Pakistan)
- Yorkshire: Hasan Ali (Pakistan), Faheem Ashraf (Pakistan)
South Group
- Notts Outlaws: Mohammad Ali (Pakistan)
Central & West Group
- Warwickshire Bears: Usman Tariq (Pakistan)
- Worcestershire Rapids: Usama Mir (Pakistan)
Complete overseas signings list
North Group
- Derbyshire Falcons: Caleb Jewell (Australia), Akif Javed (Pakistan), Mohammad Ghazanfar (Afghanistan, second half)
- Durham: David Bedingham (South Africa)
- Lancashire Lightning: Chris Green (Australia), Ben McDermott (Australia)
- Leicestershire Foxes: Ashton Turner (Australia), Ajaz Patel (New Zealand), Nick Kelly (New Zealand)
- Notts Outlaws: George Linde (South Africa)
- Yorkshire: Hasan Ali (Pakistan), Faheem Ashraf (Pakistan), Logan van Beek (Netherlands, first half)
South Group
- Essex: Simon Harmer (South Africa), Wiaan Mulder (South Africa, first six games)
- Hampshire Hawks: Delano Potgieter (South Africa, until Tristan Stubbs arrives), Tristan Stubbs (South Africa, after IPL), Hilton Cartwright (Australia)
- Kent Spitfires: Tom Rogers (Australia), Keith Dudgeon (South Africa), Dian Forrester (South Africa)
- Middlesex: Eathan Bosch (South Africa)
- Surrey: Sean Abbott (Australia)
- Sussex Sharks: Daniel Hughes (Australia)
Central & West Group
- Glamorgan: Nathan McAndrew (Australia), Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan), Colin Ingram (South Africa)
- Gloucestershire: D’Arcy Short (Australia), Liam Scott (Australia, five group matches), Cameron Bancroft (Australia)
- Northamptonshire Steelbacks: Chris Lynn (Australia), Nathan McSweeney (Australia)
- Somerset: Riley Meredith (Australia, seventh group game onwards), Daniel Sams (Australia)
- Warwickshire Bears: Usman Tariq (Pakistan), Beau Webster (Australia)
- Worcestershire Rapids: Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe), Usama Mir (Pakistan)
