The 20-year-old made his Bears debut in August 2022 after graduating from the Warwickshire pathway, and has played nine First Class and 25 List A matches since.
He leaves the Bears having made one first team appearance in 2026, in the final Vitality Blast game of the season in the win against Northants.
Shaikh progressed through Warwickshire’s youth pathway from the age of 10 and after signing his first rookie contract at the age of 16, went on to represent the England Lions and achieve success with the Second XI, most recently captaining them to a successful defence of their T20 Cup title having top scored with a vital 55 in the Final.
Bears’ Head Coach Ian Westwood said: “We made Hamza an offer to remain at the Club beyond his current contract but he feels the opportunity to join Leicestershire is the right one for him at this stage of his career as he looks to cement his place in first team cricket, and we fully respect that decision.
“Hamza has been great to work with during his time at the Bears and we wish him all the success in the future.”
Hamza Shaikh said: “After 12 unforgettable years at Warwickshire County Cricket Club, the time has come for me to say goodbye. I joined this club as an 8-year-old with a dream, and Warwickshire has been my home ever since. The memories, friendships and experiences I’ve made here will stay with me forever, and I will always be proud to have worn the Bear and Ragged Staff.
“Although this wasn’t an easy decision, I feel now is the right time to take the next step in my career and begin a new chapter with Leicestershire. Warwickshire will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will always be thankful for everything the club has given me. Thank you for believing in me from the very beginning, and I wish everyone at the club nothing but success for the future.”
Shaikh will join both the Foxes’ Metro Bank One Day Cup and Rothesay County Championship squads, but will be ineligible to play against the Bears in either competition during the loan period.
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