Amjad Khan to leave Kent

Amjad Khan, the Danish-born fast bowler, will leave Kent when his contract expires at the end of the 2010 season with the county unable to afford him a new deal.

Khan, 29, burst onto the county scene in 2002, picking up 63 wickets in his first season with Kent. After being awarded British citizenship in 2006, he popped up on the England selectors' radar and overcame a career-threatening knee injury to make his Test debut against West Indies at Port of Spain in March 2009.

"Amjad has been with the club for nine seasons and we are very sorry to see him leave," said Jamie Clifford, Kent's chief executive. "These are financially difficult times for the club and sadly we are not currently in a position to make Amjad a meaningful offer.

"This has been a very hard decision. However, we believe that it is the right one given the financial context. I am sure the club's members and supporters will join me in thanking Amjad for all his efforts and wish him the very best as he moves on."

Khan, who has continued to battle injury, understood Kent's tough situation but admitted it was tough to have to leave the county. He will now have to hope there is a county willing to take a risk with his uncertain fitness.

"I am sorry to be leaving having been with the club since 2002," he said. "Ideally I would have liked to have continued my career with Kent but it is not to be. I sympathise with Kent's off-field financial pressures and know that that the key people wanted me to stay. I look forward to new challenges with renewed vigour and believe I have what it takes to put myself back in the England frame."

"It is disappointing that the club couldn't offer Amjad a contract that would have seen him stay," added Kent's captain Robert Key. "He has been a pleasure to play cricket with over the last nine seasons and I have no doubt that our loss will be another county's gain. I wish him the very best."