FORMER Hampshire wicket keeper Nic Pothas is to leave Leicestershire to become Sri Lanka's fielding coach, the county have announced.

The 42-year-old Grace Road academy director, who played three one-day internationals for South Africa and enjoyed a long spell in county cricket at the Rose Bowl, will depart his position at the club at the end of the week.

Ex-wicketkeeper-batsman Pothas said: "The opportunity to be involved in the game at the highest level is not one that I could pass up.

"I will be forever grateful to Leicestershire County Cricket Club for the opportunity to join at an exciting time, and the structure at the club means that they will continue to move forward at pace. I'm also thankful to Wasim Khan and Andrew McDonald for being extremely supportive and understanding the decision.

"This year was always going to be a transitional one for the academy but it is now in a good place to move forward. I'll always keep an eye on how everything is going at Leicestershire, I've thoroughly enjoyed being part of the set-up."