England U19 batter Hamza Shaikh has left Warwickshire to join current County Championship Division Two champions Leicestershire. The right-handed batter has penned a new three-year contract with the Foxes, which will commence in November 2026.

As part of his move, Shaikh will initially join the Foxes on a loan deal for the remainder of the 2026 season. This will allow him to compete in the upcoming 2026 One Day Cup and the rest of the County Championship for his new side before making the move permanent. 

"I'm really excited to be joining Leicestershire and grateful for the opportunity the Club has given me. From speaking with Claude (Henderson, DOC) and the coaches, it was clear there's a strong vision for where the Club is heading, and I wanted to be part of that.

It's a great chance for me to continue developing my cricket while hopefully contributing to the team's success. Being able to join the squad straight away on loan is a real bonus. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone, helping the team over the rest of the season and then beginning the next chapter properly later this year," Hamza Shaikh said on Leicestershire's official website. 

Shaikh has represented Warwickshire in all three formats of the game to varying success. Making his professional debut for the Bears in 2022, the England U19 international has made 28 List A appearances, scoring 596 runs at an average of 28.38. However, he has earned just eight First-Class caps, scoring just 301 runs, averaging just above 20.

The 20-year-old recently made his professional T20 debut against Northamptonshire Steelbacks during the 2026 T20 Blast, which would be his final appearance for Warwickshire. 

As things stand, Leicestershire are struggling at the foot of the standings on their return to Division One of the County Championship.