Leicestershire: Hassan Azad and Gavin Griffiths among six to leave Foxes

Image source, Rex Features

Image caption, Hassan Azad was Division Two's top run scorer in 2019 with 1,189 runs

Leicestershire opener Hassan Azad is among six players to be be released by the Division Two club, having come to the end of their contract.

The 28-year-old scored 2,569 runs in 42 first-class appearances over four seasons with the county.

Seamer Gavin Griffiths, 28, who took 134 wickets in 105 appearances for the Foxes in all formats, is also leaving.

The departures of Sam Bates, Nat Bowley, Alex Evans and Abi Sakande have also been confirmed.

Off-spinner Bowley, 22, made his debut in the One-Day Cup this season, while 23-year-old wicketkeeper Bates made his first appearance on the final day of the 2021 season but spent this season in the Second XI.

Evans, 22, who took four of his 11 wickets on his debut in 2019, and fellow bowler Sakande, 28, who arrived in the middle of the 2021 campaign, both found opportunities limited.

Leicestershire finished bottom of Division Two without a County Championship win in 2022, but they did reach the quarter-finals of the One-Day Cup.