Hassan Azad among six Leicestershire departures

Gavin Griffiths, Sam Bates, Nat Bowley, Alex Evans, and Abi Sakande will also leave the club when their contracts expire

Leicestershire have announced six departures from their squad following the end of the 2022 season, with Hassan Azad the most notable name on the list.

The 28-year-old made 43 first-class appearances for Leicestershire, scoring 2,569 runs at 37.23, including seven centuries and 14 half-centuries. In 2022, he scored 579 runs at 28.95 in 11 LV= Insurance County Championship outings.

Gavin Griffiths, Sam Bates, Nat Bowley, Alex Evans and Abi Sakande will also leave the club when their contracts expire. The departure of George Rhodes was announced in May while Ben Mike's move to Yorkshire was confirmed in August.

^{Gavin Griffiths is among the other players to leave the club [Alex Pantling/Getty Images]}

Griffiths made 105 appearances for Leicestershire across all formats, claiming 134 wickets. He did not feature for the club in 2022.

Wicketkeeper Bates, 23, made one first-class appearance in 2021 while 21-year-old spinner Nat Bowley featured in two Royal London Cup matches this season, scoring a half-century against Middlesex.

Evans, a bowler, took four wickets on debut against Northamptonshire and went on to make seven first-class appearances between 2019 and 2021.

Sakande, formerly of Sussex, signed for the club midway through 2021 and took seven wickets in three Championship outings.

Director of cricket, Claude Henderson, said: "We want to thank all of our departing players for their unwavering commitment and efforts while representing the Foxes. They have all been great ambassadors of the club and we will do whatever we can to support them moving forwards in their next ventures."