Williamson quits captaincy, declines New Zealand Cricket central contract

Batter Kane Williamson has stepped down as the skipper of New Zealand white-ball teams and has also declined a central contract from the board.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) released a statement on Wednesday, confirming that the veteran batter opted out of the central contract for the 2024-25 season.

Speculations were building around Williamson’s future after New Zealand suffered heartbreak following an early exit in the ongoing T20 World Cup.

With 358 appearances for the Kiwis in his decorated career, the 33-year-old opted out of the contract list and white-ball captaincy in a bid to extend his international career.

“Helping push the team forward across formats is something I’m very passionate about and something I want to keep contributing towards. However, pursuing an overseas opportunity during the New Zealand summer means I’m unable to accept a central contract offer,” Williamson said in a statement.