Kane Williamson Declines Central Contract, After a Flop Show At The T20 World Cup

New Zealand Cricket and Kane Williamson dropped a bombshell by announcing that Kane Williamson won't be featuring for the Kiwi side in the upcoming series.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has declined to be part of the contracted list for the 2024-25 calendar year.

This comes after a poor campaign at the ongoing T20 World Cup saw New Zealand bow out from the tournament as early as the group stages, losing the opening two games to Afghanistan and West Indies.

The Gujarat Titans player stated that he wants to focus more on League Cricket, and hence he won't be available for the Blackcaps in their summer season. However, he has informed to the board that he still wants to represent the country.

Kane Williamson on Declining Central Contract

"Helping the team to look forward in all 3 formats is something I'm very keen and passionate about", Williamson Said

"However, I'm looking for an opportunity to play in the overseas leagues which fall during the summer season of New Zealand Cricket which means I'll not be available for the National side". Kane Quipped

Scott Weenink on Williamson

He is willing to make an exception in the case of Kane Williamson, generally, the Kiwis play those players who are centrally contracted.

"This is the best possible way to keep Kane Williamson in the mix for New Zealand in the years to come"

"We hardly have any Cricket after January, which means he will be available to us for a longer period. We generally pick those players who are centrally contracted but for Kane Williamson, the board has decided to make an exception", Weenink stated

Under Williamson's regime New Zealand has played the knockouts in every ICC event, this will be the first time that New Zealand won't be featuring in the Knockout stages.

Under Williamson New Zealand lost the finals of the 2019 World Cup, the 2021 T20 World Cup in UAE, the 2022 T20 World Cup Semi-Finals in Australia, and the 2023 ODI World Cup Semi-Finals in India. New Zealand however, won the inaugural World Test Championship against India in 2021 at Southampton.