Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has quit Hampshire because of ill health, the English county side said on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old all-rounder, who has played more one-day internationals than any other cricketer, took the decision on the advice of his doctors, the club said.

"Wasim, who is a known diabetic, has suffered ill health in the past few months and is very sad to be leaving," Hampshire said in a statement.

Wasim signed a one-year deal with Hampshire in April as a replacement for Shane Warne after the Australian leg spinner was suspended in February for 12 months after testing positive for banned diuretics.

He played in five of Hampshire's eight championship matches this season, taking 20 wickets at an average of 25.15.

"Wasim has proved to be a very valuable and popular member of the team and we are very sorry to be losing him at this stage of the season," said Hampshire's director of cricket Tim Tremlett.

Wasim, who had a 10-year spell in English cricket with Lancashire from 1988 to 1998, announced his international retirement in May.

During the 2003 World Cup he became the first bowler to take 500 one-day international wickets when he bowled Netherlands batsman Nick Statham.