MI London and Welsh Fire Announce Key Signings for 2026 Hundred Season
London, UK – January 24, 2026 – MI London has secured the retention of star Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan and bolstered their ranks with the addition of explosive West Indies batter nicholas Pooran for the 2026 season of The Hundred. Meanwhile, Welsh Fire has announced the signings of England all-rounder Freya Kemp and New zealand’s versatile Rachin Ravindra, signaling a fresh start for both franchises.
The moves come as teams are permitted to directly sign or retain four players ahead of the upcoming auction in March – a new rule implemented this season [[number]].
MI London, formerly known as Oval Invincibles and five-time Hundred champions, have already retained England internationals Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sam Curran, and Will Jacks [[number]]. the addition of Khan, who played a pivotal role in the franchise’s three consecutive men’s title wins, and the dynamic Pooran, a seasoned veteran of franchise cricket, strengthens their squad considerably. New Zealand all-rounder Melie Kerr and Windies batter Hayley Matthews have also been signed for the women’s team.
“The signings we have made have built a terrific backbone for both the men’s and women’s teams,” stated MI London chair Oli Slipper. “Fans were wowed by the performances of Rashid Khan at the Kia Oval last summer and Nicholas Pooran is an incredibly dynamic and exciting cricketer. in Hayley Matthews and Melie Kerr, we have signed two players who have delivered on the biggest stages for their countries and have extensive experience in franchise cricket.”
Welsh Fire are embarking on a “reset” for the competition, securing kemp, who previously won the tournament with Southern Brave in 2023, alongside Ravindra, who joins from Manchester Originals. Australia all-rounder Georgia Wareham is also a key addition to the women’s side. Ravindra will reunite with former Manchester Originals teammate Phil Salt at Fire [[number]].
“It’s great that we’ve been able to secure three high quality players to come to Welsh Fire for next year,” said general manager Mark Wallace. “This is very much a reset for the competition and these signings give us a fantastic base to build the squad from in the Hundred auction.”
Khan, 27, has established himself as a leading T20 spinner, while Pooran, 30, brings critically important power-hitting ability to the MI London lineup. Kemp, 20, and Ravindra, 26, represent exciting young talent for Welsh Fire, promising a competitive edge in the 2026 season. Matthews, 27, returns to Fire after five seasons with the franchise, while Kerr, 25, joins after stints with London Spirit and Originals. Wareham, 26, will be looking to make a greater impact after limited appearances with Superchargers in their 2025 title-winning campaign.
