Azad pens new two-year contract

Leicestershire CCC is delighted to announce that talented top-order batsman Hassan Azad has signed a new two-year contract.

The 25-year-old has had an outstanding opening season with the club, being a prolific and reliable run-scorer in red ball cricket.

Azad is the club’s leading run-scorer in the Specsavers County Championship in 2019 with 851 runs at an impressive average of 56.73, including three centuries.

The left-hander has already passed 1,000 first-class runs for the summer as he scored 139 against Loughborough MCCU, and 25 for the Students in their fixture at Kent CCC.

Azad’s overall average in 20 first-class games is also above 50, and the batsman has reached three figures on four of the ten occasions that he has passed 50.

He said: “I am absolutely over the moon to be a part of Leicestershire’s future for another two years. I joined back in March and that was the start of a dream coming true. I am grateful that I get to keep living that dream.

“It’s great to be a part of the club for two more years, and hopefully a lot longer. I think my game has improved massively working with Sads [John Sadler] this summer.

“I am also grateful for the insights of Nico [Paul Nixon], Tom Smith, Mase [Matt Mason] and Dips Patel and the time that they invest in making us better cricketers in all departments. I am excited to continue working with them.”

Leicestershire CCC Head Coach Paul Nixon added: “We were thrilled to get Hass [Hassan Azad] on board with us, and he has been a brilliant addition for us. Not only has Hass scored a lot of runs, his personality and character have been an asset to our changing room too.

“He just loves to bat and bat, and places the highest price on his wicket, which has yielded a lot of success both as an opener and a No.3 batsman in first-class cricket.

“I know that he is also working hard on his skills in white ball cricket, and we are delighted to have him with us for at least another two years.”