Kane Williamson declines NZ central contract again

Wellington

Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has once again turned down a central contract with New Zealand Cricket (NZC), raising doubts over his participation in the upcoming two-Test tour of Zimbabwe scheduled for late July and early August.

Williamson had also declined a central contract last year, choosing instead to play in various Twenty20 leagues around the world. Despite this, he signed a casual contract in 2024 and featured in nine of New Zealand’s 13 Tests, amassing over 1,000 runs.

NZC released its list of 20 centrally contracted players on June 3, 2025. Williamson, along with Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, and Lockie Ferguson, was notably absent from the list. All are currently engaged in overseas T20 leagues. Williamson is expected to continue under a casual playing arrangement.

Currently representing Middlesex in England’s County Championship and T20 Blast, as well as the London Spirit in The Hundred, Williamson’s county commitments are likely to overlap with New Zealand’s Zimbabwe tour.

In a press interaction in London last month, Williamson acknowledged the flexible arrangement with NZC, stating, “It’s just a work in progress. New Zealand Cricket has been great in working with me.” With senior players like Tim Southee retiring and others unavailable, NZC has awarded first-time contracts to emerging players Muhammad Abbas, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, and Adi Ashok. CEO Scott Weenink highlighted the importance of nurturing young talent, saying, “Their hunger to represent the Black Caps is exciting. We’re thrilled to see this group drive the team forward.”