Notts let Shafayat and Wood go

Bilal Shafayat failed to convert his unquestioned talent into tangible reward this season, when he averaged just 11.80

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Batsmen Bilal Shafayat and Matt Wood will leave Nottinghamshire at the end of the season after failing to win new contracts.

They will join Ryan Sidebottom in looking for employers next summer, the England left-arm seamer having turned down the club’s offer of a two-year deal last month.

Shafayat, 26, made his debut for Notts in 2001 and spent seven seasons at Trent Bridge in total, split by a spell at Northamptonshire between 2005 and 2007.

“The decision not to offer new terms to Bilal was a very difficult one because he has a long association with the club and his attitude and approach has always been exemplary,” said Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell.

“Unfortunately, he hasn’t produced the consistency that we require, which is why we have decided to let him go,” he added, referring to a record of 118 runs in 10 innings in the LV= County Championship this year.

“Other players have overtaken him in the pecking order and we want to give those players an opportunity to show that they can hold down a place in the team.”

Wood, who arrived from Somerset in 2008, has endured a similarly testing season, averaging just 24.66 in four championship encounters.

“Matt joined us with a brief to score runs at the top of the order but he hasn’t been able to do that with any consistency in four-day cricket,” Newell said of the 29-year-old.

“I expect that there will be interest in Bilal and Matt from other counties and I hope that they both achieve success at their next club.

“Alex Hales has established himself in our side in all formats and we’re keen to give more opportunities to Akhil Patel and Scott Elstone, who have shown promise in the Clydesdale Bank 40 this season.

“Neil Edwards has been unfortunate in that injury has ruled him out of contention for most of the season but he’ll be keen to make an impression.

“We have a shortlist of targets who we believe can improve our batting and we’ll make signings if the right players are keen to join us.”